4ti0 rilOF. ST. -GEORGE MIV.VRT ON THE ^LUROIDKA. [Juiie G, 



In absolute size the longest I have met with is that of a Ijion, 

 17'4"'5. Tiie smallest is that of Hdogale, the skeleton of which I 

 have not met with. 



The Cervical Vertebra. 



The greatest absolute length of the cervical vertebrae which I 

 met witli was in the skeleton of a Tiger, where they measured 2()""0 ; 

 but in Crocuta they attained 24' 1. 



Tiie greatest proportion borne by the cervical region to the axial 

 column from the atlas to the postaxial end of the sacrum — the latter 

 heing taken as 100 — was 32"9 {Proieles). The next longest were 

 2S-3 {Hcmigalea), 27"9 (Hyana), 27 i {Viverricula) , and 26'5 

 {Genetta and Gynoc/ale). The smallest proportions were 19 (Hemi- 

 galidia) and 18'8 (Arctictis). In the Felidce I found it to vary 

 from 19-3 to 22-6. 



The atlas in the Felid(s'is provided with large transverse processes, 

 each of which projects outwards almost, if not quite, as much towards 

 its preaxial as towards its postaxial end ; and the transverse processes 

 ])roject postaxiad but little beyond the ]Jostaxial margin of the cen- 

 tral part of the atlas. In the HydniclcE, on the other hand, the two 

 transverse processes project considerably more backwards, while the 

 postaxial end of each projects outwards equally beyond its preaxial 

 end ; so that the atlas has the appearance of being furnished with two 

 obtusely pointed wings extending much outwards and considerably 

 backwards. 



In the ViverridcB various intermediate conditions occur, Genetta 

 apfiroaching the Cats most nearly, and Svricata having the transverse 

 processes the most diverging, and Viverra the most })ostaxially 

 projecting. Sometimes a small pointed spine projects postaxiad 

 from the middle of the postaxial margin of the body, as in the 

 Galidictince and Herpestes. 



In a young Hycena, in the Museum of the Royal College of 

 Surgeons (no. 4474 c), the body of the atlas remains distinct. 



The axis varies as to the shape of its spinous process, the degree 

 of development of its ventral ridges, and the development of its 

 hyperapophyses. The spinous process may have its dorsal margin 

 nearly straight, as in the Cat, or strongly convex, as in Viverra. 

 Its anterior margin may be strongly pointed, as in the Civets, or its 

 hinder end, as in the Cat. The hinder part of the spinous process 

 may be much produced upwards, as in Suricata, or may bifurcate, 

 as in the Uycenidce. The ventral, antero- posterior ridges of the axis 

 are greatly developed in the Galidictince, Herpestes, and Viverra. 

 They are but little marked in the Hycenidce and Suricata, and still 

 less in the Cat. The hyperapophyses' are very marked in Suricata 

 and the Hyanidce, where we have the pointed ends of the postaxial 

 bifurcation of the spinous process, beneath these the hyperapophyses, 

 arid beneath these again the postzygapophyses. 



The remaining cervical vertebrae attain an exceptional size and 

 strength, as well as length, in the TlycenidcB, and are generally more 

 ' For these processes see P. Z. S. 1865, p. 57G. 



