384 



MAMMALIA. 



a low crushing heel or talon behind, and a distinct small inner cusp 

 (fig. 214 c). The dentition thus exhibits much resemblance to that of the 

 Viverridse among true Carnivora (p. 396). The neck is rather long. The 

 astragalus (fig. 214 d) exhibits an unusually convex distal articulation 

 for the cuboid. Stypolophus whitice (fig. 214), from the Lower Eocene 

 (Wasatch Formation) of Wyoming, has a skull about 0'15 m. in length ; and 

 other species are known both from the same horizon and from the overlying 

 Bridger Formation in North America. Proviverra or Cynohycenodon, from 

 the Upper Eocene of Switzerland and France, is characterized by a skull 

 and dentition almost or quite generically identical with that of Stypolophus. 



B 



FIG. 215. 



Patriofelis ferox; right manus (A) and pes (B), one-quarter nat. size. M. 

 Eocene (Bridger Formation) ; Wyoming. (After Wortman.) 



Patriofelis (figs. 215 A, B). Another North-American Creodont known 

 by the complete skeleton, and sometimes claimed to have been an amphi- 

 bious animal resembling in many respects the unknown ancestors of the 

 Carnivora Pinnipedia (sea-lions and seals). The facial region of the skull is 

 very short and truncated in front, while the cranial region is much elon- 

 gated, constricted immediately behind the postorbital processes, which are 

 well in front of the anterior termination of the brain-cavity. The course of 

 the external carotid artery along the alisphenoid is enclosed by bone (form- 

 ing the so-called alisphenoid canal). The sagittal crest is unusually high 

 and prominent, extending considerably in advance of the brain-cavity. The 

 zygomatic arches are remarkably stout and widely expanded. The short 

 stout jaws must thus have been very powerful, and the stout conical cusps 

 of the teeth are often much worn. The dentition is incompletely known, 



but its formula seems to have been ^^ ' , ' - n The atlas 



i. 2, c. 1, pm. 3, m. 2 



