136 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE jELUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, 



to the subursine section. It is true that the teeth have some resem- 

 blance to those of Viverra ; but this only results from the greater 

 or less development of different cusps, being an adaptation to a more 

 carnivorous diet." 



He observes, as to Protdes ', that it " has the cranial characters 

 common to the Cats and Hyaenas : from the dentition, so singularly 

 modified by arrest of development, but little evidence of zoological 

 affinity can be adduced ; I should therefore be rather inclined to 

 consider it a modified Hyaena, since in the external characters it so 

 closely resembles the animals of that genus." As to the Hysenas 

 themselves, he declares himself disposed to consider them, judging 

 from tlieir cranial characters, as rather more approaching the Cats 

 than the Viverra;, but proposes to obviate the difficulties thus arising 

 by a division of his family Felidee into three subfamilies, one for the 

 Cats, another for the Viverrce, and the third for the Hyaenas and 

 Proteles. 



The characters and subdivisions of his family Felidee are expressed 

 as follows " : — 



Fam. Felid^. 



Auditory bulla rounded, frequently showing indications of being 

 divided into two parts. 



Paroccipital process flatteued, and applied to the back part of the 

 auditory bulla. 



Foramen condyloideum more or less concealed. Foramen gle- 

 noideum very small or wanting. 



Caecum small or moderate, simple. Cowper's glands present. 

 Prostate gland salient. 



Subfam. Viverrina (confined to the Old World). 



A distinct alisphenoid canal (with very few exceptions). 

 Auditory bulla distinctly subdivided. 



Canalis caroticus distinct, though sometimes only as a groove. 

 True molars on each side |. 



Qalictis. CynogaJe. 



B.yz<xna. Paradoxurus. 



Cynictis. 



Herpestes. Prionodon. 



Genetta. 



Arctictis. Viverra. 



Subfauj. Hyjenina (confined to the Old World). 



No alisphenoid canal. 



Division of auditory bulla scarcely perceptible. 

 Canalis caroticus indistinct, or very small. 

 True molars on each side ^-^ ; premolars on each side |. 

 Proteles. Uycena. 



1 Loc. cit. p. 82. 2 Loc. cit. p. 86. 



