1882.| PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 465 
The length from the atlas to the end of the sacrum being taken 
as 100, the relatively longest skulls thus measured have the propor- 
tions of 29:5 (Cynogale) and 28:9 (Genetta). The shortest has 19:8 
(Leopard). The shortest Viverrine are 21-4 (Viverra cwvetta) and 
21:9 (Cryptoprocta). 
The greatest width between the outsides of the zygomata is 22"-0 
(Tiger). The broadest non-feline skull at the zygomata is 18'"3 
(Crocuta); and the broadest Viverrine skulls are 7'"3 (Viverra 
civetta) and 7'"0 (Cryptoprocta). 
The greatest widths of the zygomata in proportion to the spine at 
100 are 24°4 (Suricata), 21°5 (Lion), and 21°2 (Crocuta). The 
shortest is 10°5 (Mupleres). 
The length of theskull from basion to premaxilla being takenas100, 
the (relatively) broadest zygomatic arches measured across are 89-4 
(Suricata) and 89°3 (Felis), the Hyena brunnea being 83:4. The 
narrowest Felis is 80°4, the narrowest Viverrine (Herpestes) 44:4. 
I have much desired to find a line to be measured externally as 
a basicranial axis. The received basicranial axis can only be mea- 
sured in a vertical longitudinal section, and so can rarely be got at. 
I should have been well satisfied with a line from the basion to the 
front end of the preesphenoid or of the basisphenoid, if either of these 
two latter points were generally determinable externally ; but, un- 
fortunately, such is not the case. I have therefore been compelled 
to take as a base a line drawn from the basion to a point which 
may, for convenience, be distinguished as the “‘ovalion,’”’ and which 
is the middle point of a transverse line joining the hindmost point on 
the margin of one foramen ovale with that of the other. 
This base, compared with that of the spine (from the atlas to the 
end of the sacrum) taken as 100, I never find to be more than 9-0 
(Hemigalidia) or less than 4°5 (Felis). 
Its greatest proportion in Felis is 6-2, its least proportion in the 
Viverride is 5*\ (Viverra civetta). In Crocuta it is 6:0, in Pro- 
teles 7'3. 
The base, compared with the total cranial length at 100, 
has for its highest proportions 31°] (Galidia), 28-7 (Hemigalidia), 
and 28°2 (Felts). Its smallest proportion in Felis is 20°5 ; and the 
smallest of all are Hyena brunnea (21:1) and Suricata (19-3). 
If this base be taken as 100, then the greatest relative expansions 
of the zygomata are 463°6 (Suricata), 400-0 (Felis), and 395°6 
(Hyena brunnea). The smallest are 194-4 (Eupleres) and 1932 
(Genetta). 
The greatest relative breadths of the brain-case, compared with 
the spine at 100, are 13-8 (Suricata) and 13°3 (Felis), its least breadth 
5°9 (Viverra civetta). Its greatest breadths compared with the 
length of the skull at 100 are 54°5 (Felis) and 50°8 (Suricata) ; its 
least proportion is 27:0 (Hyena brunnea). Its greatest breadths 
compared with the base taken as 100 are 211-7 (Felis), 263 (Suri- 
cata), and 180°0 (Crossarchus) ; its least proportions thus esti- 
mated are 102°7 (Proteles) and 115°6 (Viverra civetta); the 
smallest I have found in Felis is 145-4. 
