[V,V2 Mr, II. 1. Pucock 0)1 some of tin: Ji.rfernaJ 



Proteles, being actually as tliick as those of the Hysenas, 

 thus recalling the stiff vibrissre of predatory a([iuitic or 

 amphibious mammals like Cyno(/ale or the Seals. 



The rhiuarium is large, naked, and nearly smooth. From 

 the front its upper edge is evenly and lightly convex from 

 side to side. Its lower half is marked by a groove ascend- 

 ing to a point midway between the two nostrils and con- 

 tinuous inferiorly with the cleft dividing the n|)per lip. 

 ^riie infranarial portion on each side is dee|) and i'ls lower 

 edge curves obliquely upwards and outwards, overlapping 

 laterally to a eonsiderahle extent the internal rim of the 

 narial slit above. In })rotile view the upper anterior margin 

 is rounded and not prominent. From the doisal aspect, 

 the naked portion, measured from the inner margins of the 

 narial slit, is rather more than twice as wide as long ; its 

 antero-lateral margin is convex from side to side, and, as 

 stated above, is considerably overlapped externally l)y the 

 naked margins of the narial slits. It may be added that 

 the height of the upper lip in the middle line is al)ont two- 

 thirds the height of the middle line of the rhinarium 

 above it. 



Tlie rhinarium of Crocnta appears to be similar to that of 

 Hyaiia; and the same applies to Proteles, except that 

 Flower described tlie anterior orifices of the nostrils as 

 '• turning upwards.^' In the hysenas they look straight 

 forwards. 



Ears. — A. detailed description of these organs has been 

 rendered unnecessary by the exact account of them published 

 by Boas*. The principal point to notice is the complete 

 absence of the marginal bursa found in all other ^luroids, 

 except the mongooses. Boas considers the bursa to be 

 represented by a shalh)w de|)ression on the postero-inferior 

 portion of the surface of thepinna, rut her nearer to the auditory 

 cavity than to the jjosterior edge of the pinna and a little 

 below the level of tlie supratragal ridge [plica principalis of 

 Boas). There is nothing particularly remarkable about this 

 ridge, which follows the usual longitudinal course and 

 exhibits a swelling near the middle of its length. The 

 antero-intenial ridge descends as a long crest with a sinuous 

 edge, but without delinite enlaigements of any kind, and 

 disiippears inferiorly behind the much shorter antero- 

 external or tragal ridge. The inferior orifice of the ear is 

 a small notch bordered in front by the tiagiis and behind 



* ' OhrAiiDrpel unci an^^seres Ohr der Siiu^'etliiere,' JM'- l-i-^-Hfi, 

 pl.xxi. li- -«;J (1912). 



