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Show 502 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [June 6, The papillae generally, other than those of the dorsal patch, are relatively small, and the fungiform papilla are but little conspicuous. Even those of the patch are relatively smaller than in the previously noticed genera. The lytta is small. There are only two circumvallate papilla, and they are very small. In Proteles the tongue is very exceptional indeed. It is spatulate in form, and the dorsal patch attains here its maximum of distinctness. The patch extends quite to the apex and side of the anterior third of the dorsum of the tongue. Each papilla of the patch is an enlarged hemispherical prominence. The fungiform papilla are only conspicuous at the sides of the tongue and in front of the circumvallate papilla, of which there are but two, each of which is situated in a very deep depression. The flattened papillae are very inconspicuous. The Palate, Nose, and Lips. In all iEluroids the membrane covering the hard palate is raised into a greater or less number of transverse curved ridges, the number of which may vary somewhat with the length of the muzzle, though there are eight of them in both the Cat and the Genet. But while in the Cat the ridges form a series of very open curves (convex forwards), in the Genet the curves are much sharper. Moreover, while in the Cat each ridge is entire, in the Genet the four hinder ridges are more and more interrupted medianly, and each of these ridges, as it proceeds towards the middle line of the palate, bifurcates nearer and nearer to its origin, i. e. to the outer margin of the palate. By this system of bifurcations there tend to be produced eight incomplete and four complete transverse ridges, instead of, as in the Cat, eight complete ones. The nose in the iEluroids is almost always medianly and vertically grooved ; but this groove may be absent, as in Rhinogale, Crossarchus, and Suricata. Similarly the upper lip is more or less vertically cleft or deeply grooved medianly. This groove, however, is absent in Cynogale, Rhinogale, Crossarchus, and Suricata. Teeth. The Felida have the smallest number of teeth except the dentally degraded form Proteles, which has but three molars above and two below on either side. All nEluroids have I. ? C. \- The premolars and molars may be P m 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 M !±2 \ Viverra, Genetta, Arctogale, ' 1+2+3-1-4' 1+2 J Cynogale, &c. *»• £SS. M- ik j Prim°dm- Pm' I+2^8 + 4- M 1 } S°me ****>"*>• |
