CHAP, xiir.] 



THE CAT'S PLACE IN NATURE. 



479 



behind and bilobed in front ; that there are no Cowper's glands, and 

 that the prostate is rudimentary, or exists only as a thickening of 

 the wall of the urethra, and does not form a distinct prominence. 



The sub- order of dog-like creatures, the Ci/noidea — which contains 

 but one family, Canidce — differs strikingly from the cat's sub-order. 

 The Cynoids have two posterior tubercular molars above andbelow, and 

 their normal dentition consists of four premolars and two molars in 

 the upper jaw, and four premolars and three molars in the lower jaw ; 

 though one singular form, Otocyon, has four premolars and three 

 molars on each side of each jaw. If we examine the basis cranii 

 we find a smooth, rounded and simple auditory bulla, but neither 

 does it send out externally so prolonged a process (Fig. 196, am) for 

 the meatus auditorius externus, as in the Arctoidea, nor is the carotid 

 foramen (car), though of good size, distinctly visible on its inner 

 border, for that foramen is, as it were, withdrawn within the 

 foramen lacerum postcrius, into which it opens. Nevertheless, the 



Fig. 197. — Section of Auditory Bulla of Doci (Flower). 



am. Meatus auditorius externus. 

 £0. Basi-occipital. 

 car. Carotid canal 

 e. Eustaeliian canal. 

 g. Glenoid canal. 



s. Septum. 

 (SV/. Siiuaiaosal. 

 T. Tympanic bone. 

 t. Tympanic ring. 



internal carotid follows the same course and emerges anteriorly 

 (there doubling backwards), as in the bears. The paroccipital 

 process (p) is long and projecting, and its anterior surface is more 

 applied against the bulla than in the Arctoid sub-order. The mastoid 

 (m) is distinct, but small. Both the condyloid and glenoid foramens 

 are very conspicuous, the former opening upon a bony ridge, and 

 being quite distinct from the foramen lacerum posterius. There is 

 a well-developed alisphenoid canal (a, a ). When a section is made 

 of the bulla (Fig. 197) a very incomplete septum (s) may be seen to 

 spring from its anterior wall, in the same position as that in which 

 we saw the complete septum of the cat to take origin. 



These cranial characters are possessed by all the Cijnoidea, as are 

 also the following ones : — The caecum is not only present, but rather 

 elongated, and almost always folded on itself. The bone of the 



