46S PROF. ST.-GKf)Rf;E MIVART ON TriB ^r,UROIDEA. [JlUie 6, 



Crossarchus, where it may be only imperfectly eiicloseJ by bony pro- 

 cesses). It may be entirely absent, as in the Felidce, Galidictince, 

 Euplerince, and Hycenidce. 



It may occasionally be present where it is normally absent, as in 

 Viverricula. 



There may be no carotid canal (for the internal carotid artery), ag 

 in the Felidce ; or there may be a distinct canal, as in all other 

 iEluroids. The hinder aperture of this canal may be placed at 

 about the middle of the internal margin of the auditory bulla, as 

 in the Vioerrina, or rather more forwards, as in the Hywnidae, 

 The artery may enter the cranial cavity through an aperture con- 

 cealed, or almost concealed, beneath the anterior end of the auditory 

 bulla, as generally in the Viverrince ; or it may enter through a very 

 conspicuous foramen anterior to and within the bulla, as in the 

 HerpestincB and Galidictince. This foramen notches the sphenoid 

 very deeply, so much as to seem sometimes even to perforate it. 



The condyloid foramen may be exposed or concealed ; and there 

 may be considerable variation in this respect in difterent individuals 

 of the same species. 



The palatine foramina may be in the posterior third, or well 

 within the posterior half, of the palate, as always in the Felidce ; or 

 they may be well within the anterior half of the palate, and often 

 ■within its anterior third, as in all non-feline ^iuroids. In Crypto- 

 procta they are very near the hinder end of the anterior half. In 

 Ci/nogale they are very far forwards, only a little behind the incisive 

 foramina. 



The upper alveolar border may be notched to receive the apex of 

 a lower premolar, as in Hemigalea. 



The mandible may have its angle extending backwards almost or 

 quite on a line with the inferior margin of the horizontal ramus, as 

 in most Felidce. It may, on the other hand, be very much bent 

 up towards the condyle, as in Hycena. It may be singularly 

 flattened beneath, as in Proteles. It may be very small, as in 

 Arctictis, or everted (or bent in the opposite way to that in which 

 it is bent in Marsupials), as in Suricata. 



The hinder jiorlion of the inferior margin of the horizontal ramus 

 may be very concave, as in many Viverrince. 



The coronoid process may be greatly elevated, yet inclining back- 

 wards towards its* apex, as in the Felidce. It may be elevated 

 vertically, and more or less truncated at its summit, as in Prionodon. 

 It may be raised but little, relatively, above the condyle, as in many 

 Viverrince. 



The symphysis is generally moderate, but may be greatly prolonged, 

 as in Galidictis, where its proportional length to that of the mandible, 

 from the front of the canine to the binder end of the last molar, is 

 as 62-9 to 100. 



The alveolar border may be singularly everted towards its hinder 

 end, as in Arctogale. 



