682 REPORT — 1901. 



It is tlius observable that, whilst in some specimens (e.g., the Himalayan and 

 white bear) the nasals appear to be proportionally longer (reach higher up), there 

 appears to be tolerable uniformity. 



Comparinff Kindred Gewera.— Herpestes has an arrangement similar to the 

 bears. The .specimens examined belonged to the College of Surgeons' Museum. 

 The marten has premaxillte that nearly touch the frontals. In Genetta tigrina 

 these bones approach, and in the specimen examined the premaxilla of the left 

 side touches the frontal. The premaxillte in Procyon lotor reach almost to the 

 frontal. Mellivora capensis has a naso-maxillary suture three-eighths of an inch 



long. 



The Oanidfe approach the Ursidfe in only some of their species in the character 

 of the connections of the premaxilla. Canis aureus ha.s a naso-maxillary suture 

 one-eighth of an inch long, or less. The tips of the frontals and premaxillse 

 approach in the fox, whilst in a St. Bernard dog 3 inches may be interposed 

 between the maxillaries and frontals. Hence we see that in the Canidse there is 

 less uniformity than in the Ursidte. 



The common otter (Lutra vulgaris:) and the sea otter do not show any articu- 

 lated frontals and premaxillre. The grey seal, common seal, and walrus show 

 no resemblance to the bears. 



The whales, Mesoplodon, Orca, and the dolphins, on the other hand, have 

 greatly elongated premaxillaj with greatly reduced nasals, whilst in the Sirenia 

 enormous development of the former corresponds with abortion of the latter. 



Tlie great development of the premaxilliB in rodents and elephants, as in the 

 dugong, seems to be associated with the large incisor teeth, but the hyrax is more 

 like the Macropus in this regard. The premaxilhie in lemurs, monkeys, and ant- 

 eaters are short and attached' by their upper ends to the nasals ; they are not much 

 concerned in the elongation of the .skull in the latter group. The skull of Myrme- 

 cophaga jubata, 14 inches long, has nasals 7 inches, but premaxillfe very short 

 and set perpendicularly to the nasals, the external inferior angle of which they 

 touch. The apparent separation of a portion of the frontal part of the premaxilla 

 appears to be the result of a wormian ossification such as is seen in the gorilla. 

 Tlie 'accessory premaxilla ' found in relation with Wv premaxilla in monotremes 

 seems to have no representative in mammals ("S'an IJammelen).^ It seems, there- 

 fore, that — 



(1) The Ursidre have the premaxilla usually articulating with the frontal. 

 The suture may occupy a higher level in some forms. 



(3) That in the Procyon, marten, and Genetta the bones nearly touch. 



(3) Some Canidte resemble the bears in having the niaxillffi almost .separated 

 from the nasals. 



(4) That the otters and common seals differ from the bears in this regard, as 

 also does the walrus. 



3. Report on the Migration of Birds in Great Britain and Ireland. 



See Reports, p. 364. 



4. Report on the Occupation of a Table at the Zoological Station, Ifaples. 



8ee Reports, p. 354. 



5. Rep)ort on the Occujmtion of a Table at the Marine Biological 

 Laboratory, Plymouth. — See Reports, p. 37C. 



6. Report on the ' Index Animaliuit):' — See Reports, p. 362. 

 ' Meckel, Owen, Turner, De Blainville, &c, 



