1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 327 



is very large and robust, greatly exceeding the fourth in dimensions. 

 The latter is low and molariform ; the inferior canine is large. The 

 measurements are as follows. Transverse diameter of canine 

 alveolus 13 ram. ; do. of posterior alveolus of pm. iii, 13 mm. ; diam- 

 eters of pm, iv ; longitudinal 4 mm. ; anteroposterior 10 ; transverse 

 8. Diameters of pm. iii; longitudinal 17 mm.; anteroposterior 

 (partly restored) 28 ; transverse 15. The species is as large as the 

 spotted hyena and Avas the scavenger of the Blanco Fauna. 



Another interesting carnivore is a weasel of a new genus and 

 species, Avhich it was proposed to call Canimartes eumminsii after its 

 discoverer. The genus Canimartes is allied to Mustela, differing 

 only in the presence of two superior true molars. Metaconid of 

 inferior sectorial well developed ; talon of the same, trenchant. The 

 species is as large as the fisher. 



A third carnivore is a cat, provisionally referred to the genus 

 Felis under the name of i^. hilliaims, after Prof. Eobert T. Hill the 

 well-known geologist. This cat is about the size of the cheetah, and 

 has large canine teeth without grooves, and the feet are shorter than 

 in modern cats. 



On Hippa emerita. — Dr. Benjamin Sharp exhibited dried 

 specimens of Hippa emerita Linn, and called attention to the method 

 of preparation. The animals, as soon as possible after capture and 

 while yet alive, were placed in a 50% solution of corrosive sublimate 

 and allowed to remain there for two days. They were then taken 

 out, washed for a moment in pure water, and then dried. The 

 advantage claimed was that the colors are very well preserved, 

 which would not be the case had they first been placed in alcohol. 

 He further called attention to the habits of this species, popularly 

 known as the " mole crab," or " sand flea " and spoke of the mistake 

 which some authors had made in stating that the animal burrowed 

 into the sand head first. A. F. VerrilP says: — "but this species 

 \^Hippa talpoidea~\, burrows like a mole, head-first, instead of back- 

 Avard." A. Heilprin" remarks: — "the animal [^Hippa emerita^ is a 

 remarkably rapid burrower, pushing itself head downward by means 

 of its anterior or thoracic feet." Dr. Sharp called attention to the 

 fact that the posterior pair of thoracic feet are bent upAvards over 

 the posterior part of the carapace and resemble, on superficial 

 obserA'ation, antennae. This has probably caused the posterior part 

 of the animal to be mistaken for the anterior. He had carefully 

 obserA'ed the method of burrowing of these animals during the last 

 summer. The posterior feet AA'ere employed in loosening the sand 

 by their rapid motion ; the other limbs working forward push the 

 aninial backAAard into the sand, a method of progression common, 

 more or less, to all decapods. He further called attention to the 



■ — ■ • 



1 Report of the Invertebrates of Vineyard Sound, etc., Washington, 1873, 

 338 and 339. 



-The Animal Life of our Sea Shore, Philadelphia, 1888> p. 95. 



