1882.] PROF. ST. -GEORGE MIVART ON THE jELUROIDEA. 467 



may have a somewhat larger aperture, as in the Herpestinm and 

 Proteles ; or the septum may be represented only by two osseous 

 ridges tending to divide off a small anterior chamber in each bulla, 

 as in Hycena. 



The two chambers of the bulla may be placed, one rather internally 

 and the other externally, as in the Felidce and HerpestincB ; or one 

 behind the other, as in the Viverrincs. If placed one internally and 

 one externally, the more posterior (which does not contain the 

 auditory ossicles) may be placed the more internally, as in the 

 Felidce, or the more externally, as in the HerpestintE. The external 

 chamber may be not merely placed the more externally, but may 

 be posteriorly and strikingly everted outwards, as in the Herpestince. 



The bulla may narrow much anteriorly, as in Paradoxurus. Its 

 anterior chamber may be hardly buUate, as in Gynogale, or very 

 decidedly so, as in Genetta and Herpestes. 



The external auditory meatus is generally very short, but may be 

 prolonged, as in Suricata and Hycena. Its posterior margin may 

 project the more, as in most Viverrime, or its anterior margin, as in 

 most Herpestince, or its inferior part, as in Hemiyalea. 



The floor of the meatus may be imperfectly ossified, as in Suricata 

 (where there is a longitudinal fissure) and in Herpestes (where there is 

 a foramen). Instead of a fissure or foramen there may be a deep 

 groove, as in the Galidictince. 



The external aperture of the auditory meatus may be large and 

 rounded, as in Felis ; or oval, as in many Viverrince ; or small and 

 triangular, as in Herpestes and Suricata. 



There may be a very deep pit (to receive the hyoidean cornu) on 

 the outer side of the bulla, just below the external auditory opening, 

 as in Arctictis. 



The 7nastoid may be prominent, as in Felis, Hycena, and Suricata ; 

 or not at all so, as in most Viverrince. 



The paroccipital process may not depend below the bullse or may 

 be very slightly prominent, as in Felis. It may depend below the 

 adjacent part of the bulla as a distinct process, as in Viverra civetta 

 and most Viverrince; or it may not do so at all, as in the Her- 

 pestince. 



Sagittal and lambdoidal ridges may be greatly developed, as in 

 the large Cats, and especially in the Hyaenas ; or they may be almost 

 evanescent, as in Eupleres, where also the zygomata are very slender. 

 The occipital region may be very exceptionally prominent in the 

 middle, as in Eupleres. 



The mesopterygoid fossa may be to the cranial length at 100 

 as 23-9 (as sometimes in Felis), or only as IM (as sometimes in 

 Herpestes). 



The average breadth of the palate compared with its length in the 

 Felidce is as 80-2 to 100. It may be only 32-.5, as in Eupleres, or 

 33-8, as in Cynogale. It is 62-5 in Genetta, and 51-3 in Viverra 

 civetta. It is 87-4 in Crocuta. In Suricata it is 656. 



An alisphenoid canal may be present, as always in the Viverrina 

 (except generally in Viverricula) and in the Herpestince (save in 



