372 NOTES ON THE CANIDZ OF THE WHITE RIVER OLIGOCENE, 
in Canis. As in Daphenus, the infraorbital foramen is placed very near to the orbit, 
while in the modern genera it is much in adyance of the orbit. The arrangement seen in 
Cynodictis is due chiefly to the anterior position of the orbit and in much less degree to 
the backward shifting of the foramen itself. The palatine processes of the maxillaries are 
short and narrow, corresponding to the shortness and slenderness of the muzzle, and they 
resemble those of Daphenus in being slightly concave transversely, with a faintly marked 
median ridge along the line of suture. 
The palatines have nearly the same shape and proportions as in Canis latrans (though 
they are relatively somewhat narrower) and extend forward to the anterior edge of p +; 
the palatine notch is more deeply incised than in either Canis or Vulpes and is nearly as 
deep as in Urocyon. Only a single posterior palatine foramen is visible on each side. 
As a whole, the bony palate resembles that of Canis more than that of Daphenus in its 
much less abrupt narrowing at the level of the sectorials. The posterior nares have 
about the same shape and position as in Vulpes and have a similar median spine-like 
process on the anterior border. 
The pterygoids terminate in longer, more distinct and more thickened hamular pro- 
cesses than in the recent genera, some of which, like Urocyon, have no vestige of such 
processes. From the descending process of the alisphenoid is given off a prominent 
lateral spine, which, in Canis and Vulpes, is represented only by a low ridge. 
The mandible has a slender and compressed horizontal ramus, which tapers rapidly 
toward the anterior end; it forms a long symphysis with its fellow of the oppo- 
site side and curves very gently upward at the chin. The ventral border describes a 
somewhat sinuous course, curving downward beneath the sectorial, from which point it 
rises yery gradually and regularly to the symphysis, while beneath the masseteric fossa 
it is coneaye. There is no trace whatever of the lobation which is found in so many 
of the existing Canide, both alopecoids and thooids. The ascending ramus, which forms 
an obtuse angle with the horizontal, has a proportionately smaller antero-posterior width 
than in Daphenus, though a greater one than in the modern genera; the coronoid 
process, in particular, is much narrower than in the former, and the sigmoid notch is 
wider than in the living forms. The masseteric fossa is very deeply impressed, but it 
has no such definitely marked upper boundary and it does not extend forward so far 
beneath the molars as in Canis, features of resemblance to the alopecoids. The angle 
is formed by a short, slender and blunt, hook-like process. The condyle, which is not 
in any way peculiar, is elevated much more above the level of the molar teeth than in 
Daphenus. 
The cranial foramina are yery minute and hence are often difficult to detect, save 
in exceptionally well-preserved specimens, a very slight degree of crushing being often 
sufficient to obliterate them. In general, they may be described as characteristically 
