1872.] PROF. FLOWER ON NANDINIA BINOTATA. 683 



lis, which had been discovered in a post-tertiary deposit in Queens- 

 land. 



This paper will be published entire in the Society's 'Transactions.' 



A communication was read from Dr. John Anderson, F.Z.S., Cu- 

 rator of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, on the osteology and dentition 

 of Hylomys. 



After describing the osteology and dentition of this animal at full 

 length, Dr. Anderson concluded his observations as follows: — 



" From the foregoing description of this remarkable form it would 

 seem to be more closely allied to Gymnura and Erinaceus than to 

 Tupaia, however much in general form it resembles the last-named 

 genus, from which it is widely separated in the details of its struc- 

 ture. Witness how different the pterygoid region of the skull is 

 from that which occurs in Tupaia, and in contrast to the character 

 of which may be enumerated its imperfect tympanic bullae, its slightly 

 excavated basisphenoid, its paroccipital and mastoid processes, the 

 imperfect orbit, the ridge before the latter, the imperforate molar, 

 the palate without defects of ossification, and its dentition — besides 

 other details of its skull, all of which, along with the foregoing, 

 demonstrate that its nearest affinity is with Gymnura and through it 

 with Erinaceus. Added to these are the characters of its scapula 

 and pelvis, which resemble the corresponding structures in Gymnura ; 

 and, like the latter, Hylomys has the important feature of a united 

 tibia and fibula." 



This paper will be published entire in the Society's 'Transactions.' 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Note on the Anatomy of the Two-spotted Paradoxure 

 (Nandinia binotata). By Prof. W. H. Flower, F.R.S., 

 V.P.Z.S. 



[Keceived May 17, 1872.] 



The presence or absence of a ceecal appendage to the intestine has 

 been generally held to be a character of some value in proving zoolo- 

 gical affinities, and has frequently been made use of in classification. 

 In the order Carnivora, for example, the absence of a caecum has 

 hitherto been so constantly found associated with certain structural 

 characters of the osseous, nervous, and generative systems, by which 

 the Bear-like or Arctoid subdivision of the order is distinguished, and 

 its presence is so universal in the various other members of the order, 

 that the correlation seemed as well established as any other empirical 

 generalization in zoology ; and it would have seemed perfectly safe to 

 have predicated before dissecting any member of the family Viverridce 

 that a caecum would be found, even if it should be in the comparatively 

 rudimentary state in which it exists in the Binturong (Arctictis). 



In the ordinary Paradoxures especially the caecum is rather better 

 developed than in the true Civets ; and therefore it was with con- 



