66 



BULLETIN OF THE 



CARNIVORA. 



CANID^. 



^LURODON, Leidy. 



(Syn. Epicyon, Leidy. Canis, Leidy, in part. Palhycena, Sclilosser.) 



The dogs of this genus are the most abundant of the Loui) Fork Canidce, and, 

 as their relations and systematic position have been very generally i^isunder- 

 stood, it will be well to describe them in some detail. The special peculiarity 

 of the genus is to be found in the development of a large anterior basal lobe on 

 the superior sectorial, as in the cats. The postero-internal cone (metaconid) 

 of the lower sectorial is much reduced, and in some species almost disappears. 

 The talon of this tooth is rather short, and consists of an internal and external 

 cone or tubercle, being of the basin-like character. The premolars aie remark- 

 ably heavy, and possess well developed basal conules. There are four well 

 marked species of this genus, of which the best known is 



-(Elurodon saevus, Leidy (Cope). 



(Syn. Canis soRVus, Leidy. uElwodonferox, Leidy. jElurodon sccvus, Cope.) 



This species is characterized by the very small size of tlic internal cusp of 



the upper sectorial, and by the nearly 

 straight and slender mandible ; the in- 

 cisors are rather small, and the tirst 

 u])per molar is very large and subtii- 

 angular in shape. The skull as fig- 

 ured by Cope (American Naturalist, 

 XVII.) presents a rather short, nar- 

 row muzzle, and is in general quite 

 bear-like in appearance. Notwith- 

 standing its peculiarities of dentition, 

 this animal is an unmistakable dog, 

 and the structure of the skull, ver- 

 tebrae, limbs, and feet is character- 

 istically cynoid. The metapodials are, however, somewhat less elongated 

 proportionally than in existing dogs. 



-<^lurodon Haydeni, Leidt. 

 (Syn. Canis Haydeni, Leidy. Epicyon Haydeni, Leidy.) 



This species is very large, and is remarkable for the short, massive mandible 

 and the strong upward curvature of the posterior portion of the alveolus, so 

 that the inferior tubercular molars may almost be said to be inserted in the 

 ascending ramus. In Dr. Leidy's type of the species (Ext. Mam. Fauna, Dak. 

 and Neb., Plate I. fig. 10) the third lower molar is inserted by two fangs, and in 



Figure 1. — yElurodon i^?'!/,"!, fragment of 

 right superior maxillary X g. 



