x.] CARNIVORA. 169 



ing quite off from the bulla, and only connected with it by a 

 low laterally compressed ridge. Between the paroccipital 

 process and the occipital condyle is a smooth concave surface 

 the front of which is excavated into a deep notch, the 

 posterior boundary of the foramen lacerum posterius, 

 between which and the condyle is situated the condylar 

 foramen, which transmits the hypoglossal nerve. At the 

 outside of the bulla, just behind the external auditory 

 meatus, the mastoid process is distinct and prominent, and 

 widely separated from the paroccipital. There is a very 

 conspicuous glenoid foramen situated just behind the post 

 glenoid process of the squamosal. 



All the Ursidcz, ' Procyonidce^ and Mustclida agree with 

 the true Bears in the general characters of this region of the 

 skull; for even when (as in some of the smaller species) the 

 auditory bulla is considerably dilated, it always has its 

 greatest prominence near the middle of the inner border, and 

 gradually slopes away from this point to a prolonged floor of 

 the auditory meatus ; and though there are often trabeculae 

 or partial septa passing mostly transversely across the lower 

 part, 1 there is no distinct and definite septum dividing it 

 into a separate outer and inner chamber. In all cases, on 

 looking into the external auditory meatus (in the dried 

 skull when the membrana tympani is removed) the oppo- 

 site wall of the bulla can be seen ; or if a probe is passed 

 into the meatus, no obstacle will prevent its touching the 

 inner wall. 



In the Tiger, which may be taken as a type of the Felida, 

 the auditory bulla is very prominent, rounded and smooth 

 on the surface, rather longer from before backwards than 

 transversely, its greatest prominence being rather to the 



1 Especially developed in the Weasels (Muste!a\ in which also the 

 entire p arieties of the bulla are thickened and carcellous. 



