FOSSIL CARNIVORA 31 
OXY ANIDA, 
Types: Oxyena and Patriofelis, skeletons. 
Somewhat resembling the larger Mustelines, such as the Otter and 
the Wolverine, with short heavy jaws adapted to seize and hold 
their prey, with long body and with short powerful limbs adapted 
for leaping, climbing or swimming, but not for swift running. The 
tail was extraordinarily long, and was larger than in any of the mod- 
ern Carnivora. The teeth were adapted for flesh-eating, the first 
upper and second lower molar being enlarged and specialized for 
cutting the flesh. (See Fig. 5.) 
Oxyena, from the Lower Eocene, was about as large as a 
Wolverine. The head is disproportionately large, and the tail 
as long as the entire body and head. The brain-case is very 
small, and the space for jaw-muscles very large, the whole organ- 
ization much inferior to that of modern flesh-eaters. Powerful 
and savage it no doubt was, but far from having the keen intel- 
ligence, speed and endurance of the Carnivora of to-day. 
The mounted skeleton of this rare animal is due to a fortunate 
accident. In the Cope Collection there was an incomplete and 
fragmentary skeleton collected in 1881 in Northern Wyoming 
by Dr. J. L. Wortman. In 1891 Dr. Wortman, while collecting 
for this Museum in the same region, discovered another frag- 
mentary skeleton, also incomplete. After the purchase of the 
Cope Collection by the Museum, these two specimens were com- 
pared and found to be parts of the same individual, together 
constituting a nearly complete skeleton, which has been mounted 
and placed on exhibition, with the missing parts restored in 
tinted plaster. 
In Oxyena the last upper molar has disappeared, and the second 
possesses a large shearing blade placed transversely to that of the 
first molar. In Patriofelis of the Middle Eocene the second molar 
has become very small, and all the flesh-cutting is done by the first 
molar, shearing against the second lower molar. The teeth are there- 
fore a stage farther advanced in specialization. 
The Patriofelis skeleton is composed of two individuals of the 
same species which were found at the same horizon and locality. 
The animal was about as large as a jaguar, and massively pro- 
