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the bony palate terminates in a line with the hinder margin of the 

 posterior molars, or even in advance of that line, and in this respect 

 differs from other Carnivora ; the posterior portion of the skull is 

 short, and there are two true molars on either side, both of the upper 

 and lower jaw. 



The principal genera contained in this family are Cants, Fenne- 

 rus, Lycaon, and Megalotis. In the form of the lower jaw, and in 

 dentition, the last- mentioned genus affords a most remarkable excep- 

 tion to the other Carnivora, and the palate terminates behind the 

 line of the posterior molars ; there may be some doubt therefore as 

 to its real situation. 



The Viverridce have the same general form of skull as the Canida, 

 but differ in having the posterior portion more produced ; the bony 

 palate is carried further back, and the small back molar observable 

 in the lower jaw of the Dogs is here wanting ; they have, therefore, 

 but one true molar on either side of the lower jaw, and two true 

 molars on each side of the upper jaw. 



To this family belong the genera. Faradoxurus, Cyjiogah (which 

 is the Potamophilus of Miiller and Limictis of De Blainville), Am- 

 hliodon, Hemigaleus, Herpestes, Cynictis, Ryzcena, Crossarchns (the 

 three last being divisions or subgenera of Herpestes, in which there 

 is a complete bony orbit), Viverra, Genetta, Prionodon, and Cryp- 

 toprocta. 



The Hyaena, Mr. Waterhouse stated, he was inclined to regard as 

 an aberrant form of the Viverrida : in the general characters of the 

 cranium, and especially in the curved form of the lower jaw, it differs 

 considerably from the Cats (with which it has by some been asso- 

 ciated), and approaches the Viverras. If, however, it be placed with 

 the Viverridce, it will form an exception, as regards its dentition, 

 having but one true molar on either side of the upper jaw. The 

 ' carnassiere' has a large inner lobe, and in this respect also resembles 

 the Viverras, and not the Cats. 



The species of the family Felidce may at once be distinguished by 

 the short rounded form of the skull, combined with the straightness 

 of the lower margin of the ramus of the lower jaw, and the reduced 

 number of the teeth, especially of the true molars, of which there 

 are none in the lower jaw, and but one in the upper, and that very 

 small. 



This family contains the genus Felis, species of which are found 

 in all quarters of the globe, Australia excepted. The Cats appear 

 to bear the same relation to the Mustelidce as the Dogs to the Vi- 

 verridce. 



The Mustelidce, like the Felidce, have the muzzle short and ob- 

 tuse ; the skull, however, is more elongated. They may be distin- 

 guished by there being one true molar on either side of each jaw ; 

 that in the upper jaw is well-developed, and generally transverse; but 

 in some, such as the Badger, it is longer than broad : in the Otters, 

 Skunks, and American Badger ( Taxidia Lahradoricd), the true mo- 

 lar is intermediate in form between the common Badger (Meles vul- 



