1889.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 215 



position, being much farther in advance of the glenoid cavity than 

 in the latter animals. The palatines are short and broad, the maxillo- 

 palatine suture being opposite the interval between the 3rd and 4th 

 premolars, and in general shape they resemble those of the cats. 

 The hard palate is very broad behind, and following the oblique 

 position of the molar series, it narrows rapidly forward, though it 

 never becomes very narrow on account of the abruptly truncated 

 muzzle. The palatine processes of the premaxillaries are well devel- 

 oped. The whole palatine region has a decidedly feline appearance, 

 though Cryptoprocta exhibits an approach to it, as it does in so many 

 other respects as well. 



The mandible is peculiar and is in most respects very closely like 

 that of Hoplophoneus, but the condyle is more elevated above the line 

 of the molars and the coronoid process is much higher ; the latter has 

 a less antero-posterior extent, is straight and less recurved than is 

 usual in the felines. The masseteric fossa is very deep and extends 

 forward beneath ^~r The horizontal ramus is compressed and rather 

 slender and shallow ; its lower border is nearly straight until the 

 front end is nearly reached, when it dips downwards to form the 

 flanges for the protection of the great upper canines, though these 

 Manges are not so long as in Hoplophoneus, in correspondence with 

 the less development of the tusks. The chin is slightly concave and 

 abruptly truncate, as in the sabre-tooths generally, and forms a right 

 angle with the side of the ramus; the symphysis is short and nearly 

 vertical. 



Foramina. These present a curious assemblage, being anything 

 but " ailuroid" in arrangement. The incisive foramina call for no 

 description, being much like those of the cats in size and position. 

 The posterior palatine foramina resemble those of the civets in so far 

 that they are in the maxillaries and not in the palatines, but they'are 

 placed much further back than in that group, being opposite the 

 anterior edge of pm. 3. There is an alisphenoid canal, the posterior 

 opening of which is nearer to the very large foramen ovale than in 

 the viverrines and indeed is enclosed in a common groove with it. 

 The latter is placed unusually far from the median line and is sep- 

 arated by a prominent ridge from the eustachian canal and the for* 

 amen lacerum medium, which occupy the ordinary position close to 

 the antero-internal angle of the bulla. There is a large and distinct 

 carotid foramen which is well separated from the foramen lacerum 

 posterius. The condylar foramen is also entirely separated from the 



