1889.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 229 



both the cuboid and the mesocuneiform, as both II and IV rise 



above it. 



The fourth metatarsal is somewhat longer than No. Ill and decid- 

 edly more slender, though heavier than any of the others ; it has a 

 narrow convex head for the cuboid and is closely interlocked with 

 III and V ; on the tibial side is a prominence which fits into 

 the pit on No. Ill and on the fibular side is a pit for the projection 

 from No. V. The three outer digits are thus firmly interlocked by 

 means of the metatarsals, No. II is less closely connected, but is 

 securely held in place by being wedged between the ecto- and ento- 

 cuneiforms. The shaft of Mt. IV is curved so that the distal end is 

 deflected outwards, and is slightly twisted upon itself; seen from the 

 dorsal side it seems to be attached only to the cuboid, but posteriorly 

 has a small facet for the side of the ectocuneiform. 



The fifth metatarsal is a little more s4ender than No. II and of 

 about the same length, though it descends lower, owing to the lower 

 level of its attachment to the cuboid as compared with that between 

 the mesocuneiform and Mt. II ; the cuboidal facet is very narrow and 

 ion vex from before backwards, and above it rises the large, thick- 

 ened and rugose external process; the shaft is curved both forward 

 and inward, like that of No. IV. The distal ends of all the meta- 

 tarsals show rounded hemispherical heads for the phalanges which 

 are sharply constricted off from the shafts, and on the plantar side 

 arc sharp and prominent keels; just above these articular heads the 

 shafts are expanded and have rugose processes for ligamentous 

 attachment. 



The metatarsals of Dinictis are not unlike those of Cynodidis, to 

 the viverrine character of which Schlosser has called attention (No. 

 14, Taf. vi, fi r. 18, 29), but in the former Mt. Ill is proportionately 

 heaver and its proximal end overlaps No. IV more extensively, 

 and the cuboidal facet of Mt. V is smaller. In ^Elurogale (Schlosser, 

 loc. cit. figs. 15 and 23) the metatarsals are very much heavier than 

 in Dinictis; the head of Mt. II is less distinctly wedge-shaped, the 

 head of No. IV is broader and shows an excavation on the tibal side 



which is not seen in Dinictis, while the pro- 

 jection from the head of Mt. V is much longer 

 and more compressed. The shape of the fifth 

 metatarsal is decidedly more feline in Dinic- 

 tis than in jElurogale ; the shafts in the latter 



Fig. 7 Dinictis felina ; , . . 



median and ungual phalanges geUUS are also milch Straightei' tliail 111 the 



of IV digit seen from the fibu- 



larside. former. 1 he metatarsals of Jrroailarus seem 



