512 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE iELUROIDEA. [June 6, 



The liver of Prionodon differs remarkably from that of every other 

 form I have examined in the much smaller relative size of the left 

 central lobe compared with that of the left lateral ; so that the latter 

 rises (the apex of the gall-bladder being downwards) above the 

 former, and forms nearly half of the posterior surface of the liver's 

 left segment. These two lobes (the left lateral and the left central) 

 are not separated, but are continuous towards their inferior margins. 

 It is as if the left segment of the liver consisted only of one great 

 lobe, the right portion of which was bent over so as to end in a 

 free margin, to the right (on the abdominal surface) of the great 

 bulk of such one lobe. 



The gall-bladder lies in a fossa, placed very much towards the 

 left margin of the right central lobe. The proportion borne by the 

 right lateral lobe to the right central seems to be much as in the 

 Genet'. The Spigelian lobe is small and simple ; the caudate lobe is 

 moderate. On the diaphragmatic aspect of the liver, the small left 

 central lobe only shows a little towards the ventral margin. There 

 is a deep cystic notch. 



The liver of Hemic/alea is almost like that of Genetta ; but its 

 Spigelian lobe has no notch, its caudate lobe is smaller, and its right 

 lateral lobe is rather large compared with its right central. There 

 is a gall-bladder, which is placed in nearly the same position in the 

 right central lobe as it is in Genetta, This liver also resembles that 

 of Genetta as to its diaphragmatic aspect, save that its right lateral 

 lobe is rather larger and more pointed. 



In Herpestes the liver is very much like that of Genetta, save that 

 in it the right lateral lobe is smaller compared with its right central 

 lobe, and that its gall-bladder lies much more close to the left margin 

 of the right central lobe. 



In Crossarchus the preponderance of the right segment of the 

 liver over its left segment is greater than in any other form yet de- 

 scribed ; it is nearly as two to one. The diaphragmatic aspect of 

 the liver presents the following characters : — The right lateral lobe is 

 very small compared with the right central ; this proportion is 

 much as in Paradoxurus ; but the shape is very different, broadening 

 instead of narrowing to its outer margin. The right lateral lobe is 

 not broad enough to hide the very large caudate lobe. The right 

 central lobe has a notch, not at its ventral margin, but at its left 

 end : it is a short side notch, wherein the gall-bladder aj)pears. 

 The proportion of the left lateral lobe to the left central is much as 

 in Nandinia ; but they are not quite so unequal. 



On the abdominal aspect, the very large caudate lobe (larger rela- 

 tively than in any form yet here noticed) is seen with a small, simple 

 Spigelian lobe. The left central lobe does not appear. The left 

 lateral lobe is entire, but hidden by the caudate lobe. The right 

 central lobe is very large ; but the excess of that part of it which is 

 on the right of the gall-bladder over the minute portion on the left 

 of the gall-bladder is greater than in any other form yet here de- 

 scribed. Thus the bladder makes its appearance between the right 

 ' The liver of the s))eciiiien examined was injured in this region. 



