BUNOTHERIA. 185 



BUNOTHERIA. 



This division embraces the imguiculate Mammalia of low cerebral 

 development, which have the transverse articulation of the lower jaw, and 

 ambulatory limbs. It embraces a series of types which present a great 

 range of variation in dental characters, but which at the same time pass 

 into each other by sensible gradations. I^js jpossible th at some o f the 

 types whichXtave referred here may turnj)ut to be Marswpialia^ hut jhe^ 

 number of such cases is pro bably s piall. . The following is the definition of 

 jhisj)rderi- 



Cerebral hemispheres small, leaving the olfactory lobes and cerebelum 

 exposed ; the surface smooth, or nearly so. Limbs ambulatory, armed with 

 a greater or less number of compressed ungues. Articulation of the mandi- 

 ble transverse. Molar teeth of the superior series (and usually ot the lower) 

 tubercular, and without continuous crests. Incisor teeth present in the 

 premaxillary bone. Teeth invested with enamel. Feet with five digits 

 (with a few exceptions). Usually a third trochanter of the femur. 



I once applied to this order the name Insedivora, so as to avoid the 

 creation of a new one, but I subsequently concluded to adopt the latter 

 course as the preferable one. The name Insedivora has acquired currency 

 as applied to the well-known modern group of that name, and its applica- 

 tion to types of such apparent diversity as those now associated under a 

 single head is not a convenience. I therefore proposed the name Bunotheria 

 for the order, and included under it the suborders Creodonta, Mesodonta, 

 Insedivora^ Tillodontu, and Taeniodonta* I suspect that the Prosimice must 

 also be included in this order. The suborders are characterized as follows: 



Superior incisors normal, not growing from persistent pulps; canines 

 much enlarged ; premolars compressed ; molars more or less sectorial ; 

 astragalus generally not grooved above, articulating with cuboid and 

 navicular; scaphoid and lunar bones (? always) distinct Creodonta. 



Incisors not growing from persistent pulps ; molars tubercular, never sec- 

 torial ; third trochanter elevated ; astragalus not grooved above Mesodonta. 



Incisors enlarged, simple, not growing from persistent pulps, canines re- 

 duced ; astragalus concave above Insectivora.i 



* Report of Lieut. G. M. Wheeler of the Expl. Surv. W. 100th Mer., iv, 1877, p. 72. 

 tThe typical Intectivora, Linn., Bonap., Gill. 



