CREODOXTA. 337 



I vertical in front 0085 



Diameters navicular/ transverse 0180 



( anteroposterior (middle) 0110 



( vertical at middle 0100 



Diameters entocuneiform < anteroposterior (middle) 0140 



' transverse distally 0060 



Two other bones of specimen No. 2 I cannot positively determine. 

 The first resembles somewhat the trapezium of Sacrophilus ursinus, and still 

 more that of Didclphys. I will figure it, as a description without identifica- 

 tion will be incomprehensible. The next bone is of very anomalous foi'm. 

 It may be the magnum, which is the only unrecognized bone of importance 

 remaining, or it may be a large intermedium. It has no resemblance to the 

 magnum of any mammal known to me. It was evidently wedged between 

 several bones, as it has eight articular facets. Two are on one side; the 

 largest (convex and oval) is on one edge; three are on one end, and two, 

 the least marked, are on the other flat side, opposite to the first. 



Restoration. — We can now read the nature of the primitive mammal 

 Mioclcenus ferox, in so far as the materials above discussed permit. It was 

 a powerful flesh-eater, and probably an eater of other things than flesh. It 

 had a long tail and well-developed limbs. It had five toes all around, and 

 the great or first toe was not opposable to the others, and may have been 

 rudimental. The feet were plantigrade and the claws prehensile. The 

 fore feet were well turned outwards. There were in all probability mar- 

 supial bones, but whether there was a pouch or not cannot be determined. 

 These ppints, in connection with the absence of inflection of the angle of 

 the lower jaw, render it probable that the nearest living ally of the Mioclce- 

 nus ferox is the Thylacynus cynocephalus of Tasmania. The presence of a 

 patella distinguishes it from Marsupials in general. Its dentition, glenoid 

 cavity of the skull, and other characters, place it near the Arctocyonidce. 

 Should the forms included in that family be found to possess marsupial 

 bones, they must probably be removed from the Creodonki and placed in the 

 Marsupialia. 



This species is about the size of a sheep. The bones are stated by Mr. 



Baldwin, who discovered it, to be derived fiom the red beds in the upper 



part of the Puerco series. 

 22 c 



