364 Zoological Society. 



limbs scaled to the carpus ; toes all well-developed, except the thumb, 

 which is small, the medius longest ; hind-feet scaled nearly to the 

 base of the claws, which are all lengthened and well-developed, ex- 

 cept the thumb, which is small ; the annularis nearly as long as the 

 medius. 



M. aurita, Hodgson. 



Fam. 5. Orycteropodid^. 



The nasal bones long and much spread out behind, narrowed and 

 not projecting anteriorly ; the intermaxillaries well-developed, pro- 

 minent below, not enclosing foramina ; the maxillary bones length- 

 ened and deep, provided with compound teeth ; the palate termina- 

 ting soon with a strong transverse ridge, having a pair of large poste- 

 rior palatine foramina ; the lacrymal bone large, extending much upon 

 the face ; the malar bone large, extending much upon the face, but 

 its zygomatic process small and slender ; the frontal bone large and 

 swollen, with a small and contracted post-orbital process ; the parie- 

 tals extended downwards at their anterior inferior angles to articulate 

 with the alisphenoids ; the zygoma slender, twisted as in the Arma- 

 dilloes ; a strong post-articular and a post-auditory process, and just 

 within the latter a short truncate styloid process, not enclosed by any 

 vaginal process, as the tympanic bone is much reduced and separate ; 

 the occipital condyles hemicylindrical, but with a portion of articular 

 surface continued from them upon the lower edge of the foramen 

 magnum ; the paroccipital processes in a line with them, but distinctly 

 separated. 



As this family consists, so far as is yet satisfactorily known, of a 

 single species, its characters might be multiplied to almost any extent ; 

 should another form be discovered, tliey will of course need revision. 



This communication having extended far beyond the length that I 

 at first contemplated, notwithstanding that I have limited myself in 

 most cases to the distinctive peculiarities of the skull, it will readily 

 be seen that, had I entered upon the whole osteology of the order, or 

 even introduced in every instance the characters by which the genus 

 or species may be known externally, I should have swelled this little 

 monograph to such a degree as almost to preclude its insertion in the 

 'Proceedings' of the Society, and entailed upon myself an amount of 

 labour from which I would by no means shrink, but fear I shall be 

 compelled to defer until more favourable opportunities present them- 

 selves ; but I trust that the little I have as yet accomplished may 

 afford the naturalist a clearer insight into the relations of the living 

 Edentata among themselves, and with those that formerly peopled 

 the portion of the world which was then, as now, the principal abode 

 of this remarkable group. 



Pimlico, July 1851. 



