NIMEAVID.E. 983 



The sagittal and frontal planes make an angle with each other much as in the 

 recent cats of large size. The brain-case is relatively smaller than in any of 

 the Felid<B described in this book, and the sagittal crest and inion are more 

 prominent. The face in front of the orbit is flat. The position of the alveo- 

 lus of the superior canine is not defined posteriorly, but the surface follows 

 it anteriorly, turning inwards to the premaxillary bone, from which it is sepa- 

 rated by an angular groove. The free borders of the nasal bones are injured, 

 and their posterior extremities are lost. The frontonasal suture indicates 

 that their outline is acuminate posteriorly. The zygomata are rather short 

 in comparison with the length of the skull. They are strongly convex and 

 quite robust, though the vertical diameter at the orbit is rather small. This 

 is explained by the fact that the masseter surface is mostly inferior instead 

 of lateral. The cranium is more constricted posterior to the orbits than in 

 any of the recent species, not excepting the Uncia concolor, where it is most 

 constricted. The occiput is high and much narrowed, and its superior por- 

 tion inclines at an angle of only 12'' above the horizontal line passing 

 through the occipital condyles and mandibular flanges, on which the skull 

 rests. There are three fossae on each side ; two at the summit, separated by 

 a keel, and two on each side, successively lower down. The inferior one is 

 a fissure, turning upwards and outwards, only well defined by its upper 

 border. The paroccipital process is short and acuminate, and is directed out- 

 wards and backwards. Its superior and inferior posterior borders are contin- 

 ued backwards, inclosing a fossa between them and the occipital condyle. 

 The anterior border is continued as an angle which separates the lateral and 

 inferior surfaces. The posttympanic process descends below the plane of 

 the paroccipital process, but not so far as in the Hoplophoneus cerebralis. It 

 has no inferior face, for the external and internal faces meet at an angle. 

 The external face is an elongate triangle, with the apex upwards and out- 

 wards, and the base turned inwards. It is shallowly grooved in its length. 

 The roof of the external meatus of the ear is prominent, and is continued 

 as a ridge as far as a fossa which is above the space between the postgle- 

 noid and paroccipital processes. The base of the cranium being yet cov- 

 ered by the matrix, I caimot give its characters. The sutures of the skull 

 are generally obliterated by coossification. The premaxillo-maxillary is 



