MAMMALIA MARSUPIALIA. 259 



very desirable that this character should be determined, if possible, in the 

 continental specimens of the skulls of the Felis spelsea." The Reporter is 

 enabled to reply to this enjoiumeut, the plaster east of a skull of the F. 

 spela?a, which was completely preserved in all parts, having arrived with the 

 Mi'mster collection of fossils. On this cranium, however, the nasal processes 

 of the superior maxillary bone do not merely remain behind the above- 

 mentioned transverse line, but even extend to some distance beyond it. The 

 F. spelfea is accordingly not to be placed along with the Tiger, but with the 

 Lion, although it is also specifically distinct from the living species. The 

 Reporter would take tlu's opportunity of remarking, that upon the same skull 

 is present the alveola or socket for the first false molar. Upon a lower sec- 

 torial molar tooth, from the Red Crag at Newboum, Owen has based the 

 Felis par doides. (p. 1G9.) 



Felis Geojfroyi has been distinguished as a distinct species by D'Orbigny 

 and Gervais. (Institut., p. 189, and Magas. de Zoolog., n. 39, tab. 58.) 

 In certain respects it resembles the Ocelot, Chati and Marguay, but is 

 somewhat larger than the latter, less thick-set than all three, and particularly 

 distinguished from them by the small, numerous, punctiform and blackish 

 spots which it has upon the body, shoulders and a great part of the legs. 

 These spots, arranged as they are in an oblique series, appear, yet without 

 attaining to this, as if fully prepared to be continued in a linear form ; they 

 form no stripes as in the above-mentioned species. Upon the head and 

 neck they are replaced by lines ; there are, e. g. two cheek-bands, a distinct 

 band upon the neck, and under that four transverse bands. The under sur- 

 face of the body has some bauds of a less dark colour ; the tail is auuulated. 

 The ear has a large white spot upon it posteriorly. Length of the body 

 0, 55, of the tail 0, 32. D'Orbigny brought three specimens from Rio Negro, 

 in Patagonia. 



With other cavern-fossils in the Kent's Hole were found the remains of a 

 Mackairodits, Kaup., that have been recognized by Owen as belonging to 

 a new species, on which he has bestowed the name of M. latidem. (Brit. 

 Foss. Mamm. p. 174.) The largest of the canine teeth (which are the only 

 parts of the skeleton that have hitherto been found in England) measure 

 6" along the anterior curve, and 1", 2'" across the base of the crown ; the 

 animal to which they belonged could not have been inferior in size to the 

 Felis spelsea. 



MARSUPIALIA. 



Owen has made the unexpected discovery that in Thyla- 

 cinus the pouch-bones do not exist as bones, but are only 

 represented by two small, longish, and flat fibre-cartilages. 

 (Ann. of Nat. Hist, xiv, p. 62.) 



