1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ^LUROIDEA. 201 



only a rudimentary metacarpal or metatarsal bone for either poUex 

 or hallux. ^ 



The genus Crocuta, instituted by Gray' for the Spotted Hyaena 

 ot South Africa, differs from the two species of true Hysenas as to 

 coloration, and in that its ears are not so elongated and are rounded 

 instead of pointed. The hind legs are shorter than the fore limbs ; 

 there is no dorsal mane; and there is but a single pair of anal glands^ 

 one on each side of the rectum, and a transverse band of follicles, 

 i he clitoris is enormous, and perforated by the urogenital canal =, as 

 has been excellently described in our 'Proceedings' by Dr. Watson ^ 



The cranium of Crocuta is hke that oi Hycena, but that theincipient 

 division between the two parts of the auditory bulla is more rudi- 

 mentary.^ As to the dentition ^ ^ has a quite minute rounded 

 crown. -^ has antero-external cusp much smaller than the two 

 other external cusps ; ^-^ is very long, as is also ^^ ; ^^ has not 

 two subequal tubercles side by side on its talon, "there' being the 

 merest rudiment of the inner tubercle. ^^ has no cusp inside the 

 more posterior of its two large cusps ; and its talon is quite minute. 



Ihe penis is large and pendulous, and boneless. 



The dorsal vertebrae are fifteen in number. 



The characters presented by the group of kyaenas— the subfamily 

 ayamnae — are as follows : — ^ 



(1) There is no pollex. 



(2) There is no hallux. 



(3) The ungual phalanges are not strongly arched. 



(4) The claws are but slightly arched, blunt, and not retractile, 

 (.o; ihe auditory bulla is inflated, and shows no external evidence 



of division. 



(6) The bulla is most prominent posteriorly, where it is not 



everted. 



(7) Only a rudiment of a bony septum. 



(8) The bony meatus auditorius is short ; but its anterior lip is 



produced. ^ 



(9) There is a carotid foramen not situated quite so far forward 

 as in the Viverridce. 



(10) There is no alisphenoid canal. 



(11) The palatine foramina are situated on the anterior half of the 



palate. 



(12) -^— and p— ^ are developed. 



(13) There is no ^%r ^'• 



1 P. Z. S. 1868, p. 625. 



2 It may be interesting to note that, in the ' Journal of Anatomy and Physio 

 logy,' vol XIV. (1879), p. 95, there is recorded (in a paper on the hoiuoloffv of 

 the sexual organs) the case of a woman formed in the same way as is the feniale 

 Crocuta. 



s P. Z. S. 1878, p. 416. 



^Figured by De Blainville; Cuvier.Ossem. Foss. ii. pi. 190 ; Gervais Mamm 

 p. 97. 



