On neio Species of the Genus Lycsenesthes. 341 



angle, thus presenting an intermediate state between fcetida 

 an d green la n dica. 



Now, as the cranium is missing in our subfossil skeleton, 

 there will always be some imcertaintj in the determination of 

 the species; but I think there are still some hints of syste- 

 matic value which refer the bones to Phoca grcenlandica. So 

 far as I can see, the pelvis, as compared with the tibia, is 

 shorter in caspica than in grcenlandica as well as in the sub- 

 fossil skeleton *, and in the former the metatarsals and the 

 phalanges digitorum are a little thinner and distally more 

 narrowed f. These differences indeed are slight, but as 

 they are consistent with the previous occurrences of Phoca 

 grcenlandica in our glacial deposits, in accordance with them 

 we may determine our subfossil bones as belonging to the 

 Greenland seal. Nevertheless these bones justify us in 

 drawing attention to the fact that Phoca caspica is more nearly 

 allied to Phoca grcenlandica than to any other species. 



XXXVr. — Descriptions of new Species of the Genus 

 LycjBuesthes. By A. G. Butler, Ph.D. 



Whilst working out the Lyca^nida? of the genus Lyccenesthes 

 1 have come across several species which have been con- 

 founded with known forms and require to be defined and 

 named. 



* The length of the pelvis, so far as can be seeu from our collections, 

 in caspica is less, in grcenlandica and in the subfossil skeleton more than 

 90 per cent, of the length of the tibia. 



t The least breadth of the first metatarsal in caspica is less, in grcen- 

 landica and in the subfost-il skeleton more than 13 per cent, of its leno-th, 

 and the least thickness of the same bone in caspica is less, in the subfossil 

 skeleton and in grosyilandica more than 12 per cent, of its leno-th. The 

 breadth of the distal end of the fifth metatarsal in caspica is"less than 

 19 per cent., in the other two more than 20 per cent, of its length ; the 

 least breadth of the same bone in the former is less, in the two latter 

 more, than 15 per cent., and the least thickness in the former is less, in 

 the two latter more, than 12 per cent, of its length. As to the first 

 phalanx of the first digit, the breadth at the middle of the length of the 

 diaphysis in caspica is less, in granlandica and in the subfossil skeleton 

 more, than 14 per cent. ; the thickness at the same point in the former is 

 less, in the two latter more, than 9 per cent, of the length of the bone. 

 The first phalanx of the fifth digit has the breadth at the middle of the 

 length of the diaphysis in caspica less, in granlandica and in the subfossil 

 skeleton more, than 14 per cent. ; and the thickness at the same point in 

 the former less than 11 per cent., in the two latter more than 12 per cent, 

 of the length of the bone. 



