AFFINITIES OF ^LUROPUS MBLANOLEUCUS. 



171 



In spite of this difference in their dental formula, it appears reasonahle that if ^FJurus 

 he included in the Procyonidae, ^Eluropiis should likewise find a place in the same family. 

 The two may indeed he regarded as the representatives of a subfamily group of the 

 Procyonidae — the JElurince. And the following characters Avill serve to differentiate botli 

 the family from other Carnivora, and tlu; Old World subfamily from its American 

 representatives : — 



Procyonid.'E. — True molars 3, except in yEIuro/ms, where they are |; tubercuhar, or inner, portion of 

 upper carnassial formed of two tlistiuct cnsps, the protoconc and hypocouc. Humerus usually 

 with an entcpicondylar foramen. Alisphenoid canal wanting, except in /Elurus. Feet planti- 

 grade ; tail generally long and ringed. 



a. P;-oryo;H'«<e. — Blade of upper carnassial mostly formed l)y the paracone. No alisphenoid canal. 



Two lower molars. Tail long. Steno's fissure present. 



b. jElurincE. — Blade of upper carnassial formed to a great extent by the anterior style and meta- 



cone, which approximates in size to the paracone, and thus renders the blade completely 

 trilobed. Steno's fissure absent. 



1. Tail long; two lower molars, an alisphenoid canal, palate prolonged behuid m.Z, a 



postorbital process, radial extra-carpal moderate ^Elunts. 



2. Tail rudimentary ; three lower molars, no alisphenoid canal, palate not prolonged beyond m. 3, 



no postorbital process, radial extra-car| al very large yEluropus. 



In the retention of the third lower molar JEluropi^s is more generalized than JElurus, 

 but in its rudimentary tail and the obliteration of the alisphenoid canal it displays greater 

 specialization. The retention in both genera of the entcpicondylar foramen to the 

 humerus indicates that they must have branched off from the ancestral stock at an earlier 

 date than Uyienarctus and Vrsus. These relations may be roughly indicated in the 

 accompanying diagram : — 



Canis. 



Procyon. 

 JElurtis. 



^ 



JElurojms. 



Amphicyon. 



SECOND SERIES. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. VIII. 



27 



