CEEODONTA. 349 



on the lower face, a strong glenoid groove at right angles to the axis of the 

 cranium, with its anterior margins acute and prominent. This is the well- 

 defined glenoid cavity of the feline type. The zygoma has a wide curva- 

 ture, indicating a powerful temporal muscle. The posterior angle of the 

 malar extends well posteriorly. Its anterior portion projects, forming a 

 longitudinal rib ; there is no produced postorbital process. The tympanic 

 bone is produced upwards and outwards and forms a tube with everted lips. 

 The opisthotic (mastoid) separates it entirely from the exoccipital, and over- 

 laps the posterior half of the tube by a laminar expansion. A pit in this bone 

 near the meatus externus represents the insertion of the stylohyal ligament. 

 There is no bulla, the tympanic chamber being small, with thick walls and 

 without any trace of septa. The character of this region resembles that 

 seen in the bears more than that of an}- other carnivorous type. 



The premaxillaries are vertico-oblique in position, presenting the nai-eal 

 opening directly forwards as in cats, but with a still less prominent alveolar 

 border. The horizontal part of this box-der is indeed very short, including 

 but two small incisors. It then rises vertically, and turns obliquely back- 

 wards to the maxillary, inclosing a deep sinus with the canine tooth. From 

 the anterior side of this sinus the larger external incisor issues, with its root 

 extensively exposed externally. A rib ascends from the front of its alveolus 

 to the anterior or nareal margin of the bone. The triturating surfaces of 

 the incisors are directed backwards, and the alveolar edge is thickened in 

 front of them with a tuberosity. The teeth are much worn so that the 

 forms of the crowns cannot be determined, but at .25 inch beyond the 

 alveoli they are compressed, the large outer tooth with a longitudinal angle 

 in front. 



The cranium of the specimen of M. obtusidens is fragmentary. The 

 malar bone of the right side is similar in position and form to that of the 

 CanidcE, especially in the presence of a weak angle onl}-, to mark the pos- 

 terior border of the orbit. It has a much less expanded union with the 

 maxillary than in these animals, and is proximally shallower, thicker, and 

 more prominent. Its posterior portion is more plate-like. 



The cervical vertehrce of the M. obtusidens are damaged. The dorsals are 

 strikingly smaller than the lumbars, being less than half their bulk. They 



