MACHAIRODUS OF NEBRASKA. 565 
inch in its length and absolutely very much more robust and stronger than in 
species of Felis of larger size. 
The passage to the meatus auditorius externus between the post-glenoid tubercle 
and the mastoid process is relatively very much narrower than in the Panther, 
The face is more uniform in breadth along the course of the nose than in the 
Panther, and is convex and not depressed as in the latter, above the infra-orbitar 
foramina. 
The forehead is elevated one inch above the extremity of the post-orbitar pro- 
cesses, is transversely very convex, depressed along the median line, and presents 
very obliquely forward. 
The malar bones are relatively narrow; the face below their anterior extremity 
relatively broad. 
The infra-orbitar foramina are twice the size of those of the Panther. The orbits 
present in about the same direction as in the latter. The squamous, coronal, 
interparietal, and interfrontal sutures are obliterated. The fronto-maxillary and 
naso-frontal sutures are strongly serrated. 
The intermaxillary bone reaches to within a half inch of the frontal. 
In the lower jaw a striking character is the relatively short coronoid process 
which is also vertical, or not at all curved backward. The post-coronoid process 
bends outward instead of inward, as in the species of Felis. About three inches from 
the condyle, near the base, and proceeding to it, is a ridge, apparently the com- 
mencement of the inferior margin of the remarkable alar process of the chin of 
Machairodus. 
Dentition.—The superior canines, judging from their much mutilated stumps, 
have been very long, compressed in form, but relatively narrow antero-posteriorly 
to those of Machairodus neogseus. At their alveoli they measure seven lines 
antero-posteriorly, and four lines transversely. The concave border of one of the 
teeth in the fossil, nine lines below the base of the enamel, commences to be tren- 
chant, and delicately serrulated. Also, antero-internally, the oblique serrulated 
ridge begins at the base of the crown, and is directed anteriorly. 
The superior incisive alveoli remain in the specimen: they are of very large size, 
and increase from the first at the median line to the last, and leave no interval or 
hiatus between the latter and the superior canine for the reception of the lower 
canine. 
The hiatus between the superior canine and the second molar, the first having 
been shed, as if depending upon the diminished breadth of the former, compared 
to its condition in Machairodus neogzeus, is unusually large, being seven lines. 
The second molar relative to that of the Panther, is small; it is also short in 
relation to its breadth. It has three distinct lobes: an anterior, oblong talon, a 
posterior, simple, compressed, trenchant lobe, separated by a notch from a middle, 
compressed, conoidal cusp. 
The superior carnassial tooth presents the same form as in Machairodus neogzeus, 
and is particularly distinguishable from that of the true Cats by its middle lobe 
being broad and trenchant instead of pointed. 
In the lower jaw, as before mentioned, the chin is broken away, but upon one 
