466 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ,5ELUROIDEA. [Juoe 6, 



The greatest total lengths of the palate bear proportions to 

 the sphie (atlas to sacrum as 100) of 17'9 (Herpestes) und 17'5 

 (Crossarchus). Its least proportion is 9 6 (Felis), the largest pro- 

 portion I have found in Felis being 14' 7. The shortest Viverrine 

 palates, thus estimated, are 10'9 (Viven-icula) and 11' 5 (Five>-r a, 

 Galidia, and Crypfoprocta). 



Compared with the cranial length at 100, the greatest proportions 

 the palate attains are 62'8 {Bdeogale) and 61'6 (Herpestes) ; its 

 least is 43"4 (Felis). Compared with the base at 100, its greatest 

 relative lengths are 290-9 (Suricafa), 272- 7 (Felis), and 268-2 (Arc- 

 togale) ; its smallest proportions in length are 153"8 (Felis) and 

 150 (Galidia). 



The greatest breadths of the palate, compared with the spine at 

 100, are 12-8 (Crocuta), 11-4 (Felis), and lO'O (Suricata). Its 

 least relative dimensions are 3*9 (Eupleres), b'A (Cynogole), and 5"9 

 (Viverra civetta). Its smallest proportion in i^efe is 7 '8. 



The greatest proportional breadths of the palate, compared with 

 the total cranial length at 100, are 49"3 (Crocuta), 46-9 (Felis), and 

 36-8 (Suricata) ; its least proportions are 22*7 (Arctogale) and 16-8 

 (Eupleres). The greatest proportions of its breadth compared with 

 the base at 100 are 213-4 (Crocuta) and 200-0 (Felis) ; its smallest 

 is 100 (Hemigalidia, Arctictis, and Poiana). 



The projection of the palate backwards behind the upper molars 

 compared with the total cranial length at 100 is greatest in Proteles 

 (20-8), Arctictis (18-7), and Suricata (16-9). I have found its 

 maximum in the Cats to be 1 19, and its minimum 4-6. In Genetta 

 it is 5-0. It is least in Hycena brunnea (4-5) and Nandiiiia (2-6). 



The interorbital breadth may be in a proportion as large as 7-3 

 (Hemigalidia), and as small as 2-5 (Genetta), compared with the 

 spine at 100. Compared with the total cranial length at 100, it 

 ranges from 27*5 (Galidia) down to 8-7 (Genetta). 



The postorbital breadth similarly ranges from 10-0 (Felis) to 3'0 

 (Viverra), and from 45-0 (Felis) to 12-2 (Cynogale) respectively. 



The orbits are rarel}' enclosed by bone, as sometimes in Felis, 

 Herpestes, Cynictis, Suricata, and almost in Rhinogale. The post- 

 orbital processes, on the other baud, may be almost or quite obso- 

 lete, as in Cynogale and Arctictis. 



Except in Proteles and the above mentioned Viverrine genera, 

 in which the orbits may be enclosed by bone, the postorbital pro- 

 cesses of the frontal are never so long in the Fiverridce as they 

 generally are in the Felidcp. 



The face is generally shorter as compared with the cranium in the 

 Felidce than in the Fiverridce. 



The auditory bulla is always an ossified convex prominence except 

 in Nandinia, where it is cartilaginous. It may be quite smooth and 

 uuconstricted, showing no external sign of internal division, as in 

 the Felidce. There may be no internal septum, as in Crocuta. 

 There may nevertheless be an almost complete internal septum 

 dividing each bulla into two chambers, with only a minute opening 

 on the septum, as also in the Felidce and Viverrince, The septum 



