NO. 2100. RACCOO'S^S AT:^^D THEIR ALLIEfi—HOLLIfiTETi. 147 



Posterior fold of third upper incisor commonly developing a small, 

 independent cusp. Upper molariform teeth smaller and weaker than 

 in Euprocyon, scarcely broader than long, with less developed cingu- 

 lum shelves, and more sharply, less rounded, coniform cusps; paracone 

 and hjrpocone of last upper premolar connected by a low ridge ; m* 

 four-tuberculate, the summit of protocone long, oblique, and not 

 divided ; and posterior border of cingulum shelf connected with crown 

 of hypocone, without accessory cusplet. (Plate 39.) 



Genus NASUA Storr. 



1780. Nasua Storr, Prodr. Meth. Mamm., tab. A. 



1799. Coaii Lacepede, Tabl. Mamm., p. 7. 



1845. Nasica South, Encycl. Metr., vol. 7, p. 383. 



1872. Cuati Liais, Clim., Geol., Faune Bresil, p. 427. 



1899. Mamnasuaus Herrera, Sin. Viilg. Cient. Vert. Mexicanos, p. 20. 



Type. — Viverra nasua Linnseus. 



Characters. — Head long, rostral portion elongated, the snout up- 

 turned and mobile; ears rather short, rounded; tail very long, 

 usually longer than body, nonprehensile ; soles of feet naked; toes 

 united for some distance from bases; front claws very long, slightly 

 curved; hind claws strong, sharp, and well curved; os penis about 

 75-85 mm. long (according to Flower). 



Skull long and comparatively narrow, the rostrum elongated and 

 laterally compressed; braincase less flattened than in Procyon, with 

 very httle interorbital and considerable postorbital construction; 

 zygomata with or without postorbital processes, frontals with dis- 

 tinct processes; sagittal crest well developed. Palate flat, or hol- 

 lowed posteriorly, with distinct lateral grooves, and extending far 

 beyond plane of last molar; palatine bones deeply notched on each 

 side, with long processes extending laterally to the maxillary tuber- 

 osities; posterior root of last molar near line with center of orbit; 

 vomer usually attached to palatal bones; foramen ovale small; 

 audital buUse small but smoothly rounded, and rising at sharp angle 

 from tube of external auditory meatus. Mandible essentially as in 

 Procyon, but ascending ramus comparatively small and low. 



Dental formula : i ^c j pm j m ^ = 40. 



Teeth of medium size, much smaller than in Procyon, much larger 

 than in NasueJla (maxillary row less than one- third the greatest 

 length of skull, the uninterrupted series, pm^ — m^, usually more 

 than one-fourth the greatest length, always more than one-fom*th 

 the occipito-nasal length); crowns comparatively high, with sharp, 

 strong cusps; prn* slightly longer than broad; m^ subquadrate, 

 length and breadth about equal, or sometimes longer than broad; 



