354: Mr. R. I. Pocock on some of the 



of the rhinarium, when viewed from the front. And this 

 disproportion results not only from the deepeniufij o£ the 

 upper lip, but from the concomitant expansion of its upper 

 half, so that the major portion of the rhinarium is, as it 

 were, thrust or tilted up to occupy a horizontal position, 

 with the nostrils opening upwards on the summit of the 

 muzzle. This modification is quite unique amongst the 

 ^luroidea, and its importance is not lessened by explaining 

 it as an adaptation to aquatic life. 



The rhinarium itself is peculiar in other respects when 

 compared with thatof Viverrineand Paradoxurine Carnivores, 

 though recalling the rhinarium of some genera of the latter 

 category in the nearly horizontal extension of its inferior 

 border and the deep median groove marking its anterior 

 surface and the fore part of its upper surface. The infra- 

 narial portion of its anterior surface is, however, very shallow 

 or short ; and from its widest part above, the lateral margins 

 of the rhinarium are strongly inclined inwards and back- 

 wards, so that its slightly concave posterior border just behind 

 the posterior notches of the two nostrils is less than half its 

 greatest width. The nostrils themselves are long, and con- 

 form in shape to the curvature of the lateral border of the 

 rhinarium. Externally they are bordered by the thickened 

 rim of the rhinarium, and this thickening is carried round 

 their narrowed posterior portion on to the inner or ad- 

 median side. Their appearance suggests that they are 

 strongly valvular fur the exclusion of water. 



Vibrissce. — The thickness, length, and abundance of the 

 facial bristles have attracted attention from the first, but 

 they have not always been accurately described. Mivart, 

 for example, says there is a bunch below each ear. This is 

 repeated by Sanyal, who adds that there is an intermediate 

 set on each side of the nose between the eye and the lip. As 

 a matter of fact, the tufts of vibrissae are typically Carni- 

 vorine both in number and position : that is to say, they 

 resemble in those respects the vibrissse of all the Cynoid and 

 most of the ^luroid and Arctoid Carnivores, and belong to 

 the following categories — mystacial, submental, superciliary, 

 interramal, and genal (Pocock, P. Z. S. 1914, p. 901). The 

 upper genal tuft is in front of the base of the ear and the 

 lower some distance behind the corner of the mouth. 

 Neither of the two genal tufts on each cheek is below the 

 ear, and the '^ intermediate set^^ mentioned by Sanyiil are 

 the uppermost bristles of the mystacial series. 



The carpal vibrissa: are absent, an unusual feature in this 

 group of Carnivora. 



