112 Mr. E. D. Cope on the Systematic Relations 
XV.—On the Systematic Relations of the Carnivora Fissi- 
pedia. By HB. D. Corr *. 
Tus order embraces the clawed Mammalia with transverse 
glenoid cavity of the squamosal bone, confluent scaphoid and 
lunar bones of the carpus, and well-developed cerebral hemi- 
spheres. It is well distinguished from all others at present 
known; but such definition is likely to be invalidated by 
future discovery. Some of the Insectivora possess a united 
scapholunar bone ; but the reduction of the cerebral hemi- 
spheres of such forms distinguishes them. The presence of 
the crucial fissure of the hemispheres is present under various 
modifications in all Carnivora, while the parieto-occipital and 
calcarine fissures are absent. 
The many types of existing Carnivora fall into natural 
groups which are of the grade termed family in zoology. 
But the distinction of these from each other is not easily 
accomplished, nor is it easy to express their relations in a 
satisfactory manner. ‘The primary suborders of Pinnipedia 
and Fissipedia are easily defined. Various characters have 
been considered in ascertaining the taxonomy of the more 
numerous Fissiped division. ‘he characters of the teeth, 
especially the sectorials, are important, as is also the number 
of the digits. ‘Turner has added important characters de- 
rived from the foramina at the base of the skull and the otic 
bulla, which Flower} has extended. Garrod§ has pointed 
out the significance of the number of convolutions of the 
middle and posterior part of the hemispheres. I have added 
some characters derived from the foramina of the posterior 
and lateral walls of the skull ||. My. Turner also defines the 
families by the form and relations of the paroccipital process. 
In studying the extinct Carnivora of the Tertiary period it 
has become necessary to examine into the above definitions in 
order to determine the affinities of the numerous genera which 
have been discovered. ‘To take them up in order, I begin 
with the foramina at the base of the skull. The result of my 
study of these has been that their importance was not over- 
rated by Mr. Turner, and that the divisions of secondary rank 
indicated by them are well founded. Secondly, as to the 
* From the ‘ Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society,’ 
vol. xx. no. 112, p. 471, having been read before the American Philo= 
sophical Society on October 20, 1882. 
+ Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1848, p. 65. 
{ Loc. cit. 1869, p. 5. § Loc. cit, 1878, p. 377. 
|| Proc. Amer. Phil. Soe. 1880. 
