8 



of tliis region forbids the idea of any tapiroid affinities on the part of 

 this genus, and resembles that seen in the bears more than that of any 

 other carnivorous type. 



The premaxillaries are vertico-oblique in position, presenting the 

 nareal opening directly forwards as in cats, but with a still less promi- 

 nent alveolar border. The horizontal part of this border is indeed very 

 short, including but two small incisors. It then rises vertically, and 

 turns obliquely backwards to the maxillary, enclosing a deep sinus with 

 the canine tooth. From the anterior side of this sinus the larger 

 external incisor issues, with its root extensively exposed externally. A 

 rib ascends from the front o f its alveolus to the anterior or nareal margin 

 of the bone. The triturating surfaces of the incisors are directed back- 

 wards, and the alveolar edge is thickened in front of them with a 

 tuberosity. The teeth are much worn so that the forms of the crowns 

 cannot be determined, but projecting .25 inch beyond the alveoli they 

 are compressed, the large outer tooth with a longitudinal angle in front. 



The mandibular rami are quite elongate, and indicate a cranium near 

 the size of that of the brown bear ( Ursus arctos). Their form is slender, 

 and they have a long, rather narrow, symphysis, which projects obliquely 

 forwards. The angle is not preserved. The mental foramen is large 

 and issues just behind the canine teeth. 



The dentition is I. ? j} ; C. 1 1 M. ?|. The canine is of very large size 

 especially the part protruded beyond the alveolus. The crown is stout 

 at the base, but is soon compressed and obliquely truncated by the 

 attrition of the inferior canine, on its inner face. Two superior molars 

 preserved are three-rooted, and the section of the crown is 1 more or less 

 equally trilobate. The number in the maxillary bone is estimated at 

 seven, the number found in the ramus of the mandible. There are six 

 two-rooted molars below and probably one single-rooted premolar, 

 though this is indicated by an alveolus only. The molars are rather 

 narrow antero-posteriorly, and are not very different in size, except that 

 the penultimate is a little longer, ?,nd the last a little shorter than the 

 others. There was evidently a longitudinal cutting edge behind, and 

 some other shorter process on the front of the crown ; the edge is pre- 

 served on the last tooth and resembles that of Mesonyx, so that I have 

 little doubt that the remainder of the tooth was, as in that genus, a conic 

 tubercle. The .most remarkable feature of the genus is seen in the 

 inferior canines. These are very large teeth, and are directed im- 

 mediately forwards, as in the case of the cutting teeth of rodents. 

 They work with their extremities against the retrorse crowns of the two 

 external incisors above; and laterally against the superior canine. They 

 are separated by a space about equal to the diameter of one of them. 

 In this space I find no alveoli nor roots of teeth ; the outer alveolar wall 

 extends far beyond the inner. The latter terminates opposite the middle 

 of the superior canine. It may be that there are no inferior incisors. 



