20 MR. W. H. FLOWER ON THE [ Jan. 14, 
permanently distinct and moveable, not only from the other cranial 
bones, but also from the tympanic portion of the bulla. In form it 
is conical, broad and truncated behind, pointed in front, and rather 
compressed at the sides, which meet in a ridge. The orifice between 
the two cavities of the bulla is very minute, and the septum perma- 
nently double, receiving a stratum from the wall of each cavity. The 
carotid canal is distinct, situated near the anterior end of the inner 
wall of the posterior chamber of the bulla; but it appears to be 
never completely closed on the inner side, except by the contiguous 
basioccipital. The paroccipital and mastoid processes are as in the 
Civet. The condyloid foramen is even more concealed. The glenoid 
foramen is very minute. The alisphenoid canal is distinct. 
In a specimen of Nandinia binotata in the College Museum, which 
otherwise agrees generally with Paradoxurus, the posterior chamber 
is entirely cartilaginous, although the cranium appears to be adult or 
nearly so, and the tympanic portion of the bulla is completely ossified. 
Cynogale, which has a singularly modified dentition, closely resem- 
bles the Paradoxures in its cranial characters, even to the permanent 
want of union of the two portions of the bulla. The anterior cham- 
ber is very small and flat; the posterior rather more inflated and 
conical than in Paradoxurus, being more like that of Viverra. The 
carotid canal forms a deep groove, converted into a foramen by the 
lip of the basioccipital, placed rather in front of the middle of the 
posterior chamber. The paroccipital process projects beyond the 
bulla. ‘There is no alisphenoid canal. 
All the Herpestine members of the Viverride@ (Cynopoda, Gray) 
present certain common characters of this region by which they can 
be readily recognized. The bulla (fig. 9, p. 21) is very prominent and 
somewhat pear-shaped, the larger, rounded end being turned back- 
wards and somewhat outwards; a well-marked transverse constriction 
separates the chambers, which are now directly anterior and posterior. 
In front of the constriction the anterior (true tympanic) chamber is 
somewhat dilated again, much more than in the Civet-like Viverrines. 
The aperture of communication between the two chambers is rather 
larger. The carotid canal (car) is very distinct, situated quite at the 
front of the posterior chamber. The paroccipital process (p) does 
not project beyond the bulla, but is spread out and lost (in adult 
animals) on its posterior surface. The condyloid foramen (ce) is 
concealed; the glenoid foramen is very minute or absent. The ali- 
sphenoid canal appears to be always present. 
The Suricate (hyzena zenik) presents the same essential charac- 
ters in a very modified form, caused by the general lateral expansion 
of the posterior part of the cranium. Here, and here alone among 
the Viverride, there is a prolonged auditory meatus ; but it presents 
the peculiarity of being fissured along the whole extent of the middle 
of its floor*. The anterior chamber is remarkably prominent, even 
more than the posterior. Externally these parts have some resem- 
blanee to those of the Arctoidea, but show their adherence to the 
Viverroid type in the two distinct chambers of the bulla, the ex- 
* The slightly produced floor of the meatus of Urva is also fissured. 
