OCR Text |
Show 236 MR. OLDFIELD THOMAS ON THE MAMMALS [Nov. 3, Skull-greatest length 122 mm. ; basal length 112 ; zygomatic breadth 63-5 ; nasals, length mesially 38 ; interorbital breadth 19 ; tip to tip of postorbital processes 26 ; intertemporal breadth 17'8 ; breadth of brain-case 43-5 ; palatal foramina (singly) 8 x 2-5 ; palate length 56 ; length of os penis 47. Teeth-p.4, length on outer border 8-2 ; m.1 8 x 9"5 ; m.2 6'4 X 8-6 ; combined length of m.1 and m.214"5. P.4, length 64; m.j 10, m.2 6*7, m.3 4-4. This Dog differs from C. vetulus, to which it is no doubt allied, in its darker and greyer general colour, its blackish feet, and larger skull. The possession by the only specimen of a third pain-of upper molars is probably an individual abnormality, but occurring here in one of the most primitive types of Canidse it presents a very interesting and suggestive case of atavism. For this reason alone further examples of this animal will be welcomed with interest, to see how frequently the extra teeth are present. I have named this distinct animal in honour of the late Mr. Percy Sladen, whose valuable zoological work is known to all naturalists, whose death was lamented by a wide circle of friends, and whose widow has chosen the most useful and suitable way of perpetuating his memory by bearing the expense of Mr. Robert's expedition to Central Brazil. 13. CANIS VETULUS Lund. cS. 1108. 2. 1189. Quite alike externally, these two specimens differ surprisingly in the size of their molars, the female having the larger. Further specimens will be needed before this difference can be explained, but it may be noted that the larger-toothed specimen agrees closely with typical C. vetulus, whilst that with the smaller teeth has an equal resemblance to the wrongly localized type of Gray's " Lycalopex fulvicaudus, var. 1. chiloensis."*' 14. SPEOTHOS VEXATIOUS Lund. $. 1127. The Bush-dog is seldom captured by collectors, and this excellent specimen is a valuable accession to the Museum. 15. GALERA BARBARA L. c?. 1064, 1117. $. 1065. 16. NASUA NASUA L. S. 1043, 1054, 1056, 1057, 1069, 1087, 1164. 2. 1055, 1070, 1071, 1129, 1136, 1137, 1141, 1142, 1156, 1157, 1163. Among this fine series of eighteen Coatis it might be said that * P. Z. S. 1868, p. oil ; Cat. Cain. 1>. M. p. 198 (1869). |