itj6 Lloyd's natural history. 



features that it is comparable with that of the Viverridce rather 

 than that of the Fdidce, the osteology of Procelurus presenting 

 a marked resemblance to Cryptoprocta ; indeed, Dr. H. Filhol 

 is of opinion that the Tertiary genus is the direct ancestor 

 of the existing form. In Pseudcehtnis the feline characters of 

 the dentition are more marked. 



In the genus under consideration there are only three pairs 

 of pre-molar teeth, and the lower carnassial tooth has no dis- 

 tinct inner cusp, the upper tusk being large, with a sharp 

 posterior edge. The first lobe of the blade -of the upper car- 

 nassial tooth is reduced to a small cusp; while the hinder lobe 

 of the same is formed by two small cusps. The typical species 

 (P. quadridentatus) occurs in the Middle Miocene beds of 

 France and Styria ; and may be compared in size to a Lynx. 

 A lower jaw of a more slender type, from the Pliocene Loup- 

 Fork beds of Nebraska, has been assigned to a second species, 

 with the name of P. intrepidus* 



XII. GENUS PRO.ELURUS. 

 Proailurus, Filhol, Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. x. art. 3, p. 192 (1879). 

 In this genus there are four pairs of pre-molar teeth in each 

 jaw ; the lower carnassial has a large inner cusp as well as a 

 posterior heel ; and in the upper carnassial the anterior lobe of 

 the blade of the True Cats is represented only by a rudimentary 

 cusp, while the inner tubercle is large and placed close to the 

 front edge. In the base of the skull the alisphenoid bone is 

 perforated by a canal ; while in the presence and position of 

 certain foramina in this region the base of the skull agrees with 

 the primitive Civets and Dogs. The limbs were relatively long 

 and slender; the femur retained a third trochanter; and the 

 tail was extremely elongated. The genus is represented in the 

 Lower Miocene and Upper Eocene (Oligocene) of France by 

 the two species P. kmanensis and P. julUtd* which may be 

 compared in point of size to a small Civet. 



