600 DR. J. ANDERSON ON MTJSTELA SUBPALMATA. [Jime 1, 



Whether the possibility that mammals may secondarily develop 

 a practically unlimited number of teeth has any bearing at all on 

 the case of the Cetacea, we are not at present prepared to say. But 

 it is evident that the complexity of the Manatee's numerous teeth 

 quite disproves the idea that Mammal-teeth cannot be at the same 

 time both numerous and complex — an idea on which the theory 

 that cetacean teeth are the separated portions of a smaller number 

 of complicated teeth was very largely based. That the same 

 theory in another form may still be true — viz., that they are 

 the separated cusps of Seal-like or Zeuglodon-like teeth highly 

 developed and then separated by hypsodontism, — we are not at 

 present disposed to deny. 



From what is said above, it will be evident that we think the 

 multiplicity of the teeth in the Cetaceans has in any case an 

 entirely different origin to that in the Sirenians and does not 

 indicate any unsuspected affinity between them. In fact we still 

 think that the probabilities are on the whole in favour of a 

 Carnivorous origin for the Cetacea, and an Ungulate one for the 

 Sirenia. 



In any case, whatever bearing the secondary development of 

 a continuous and indefinite multiplication of teeth may have 

 on general problems of tooth-evolution, the mere fact itself is 

 sufficiently interesting to be recorded. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXVI. 



Fig. 1. Young lower jaw of African Manatee, showing teeth 2 to 5. 



2. Somewhat older jaw of same, with teeth 5 to 10. 



3. Stili older jaw of same, with teeth 9 to 13. 



4. Very old jaw of same, with teeth 12 to 19. 



6. Very young lower jaw of Amazonian Manatee, showing the first 

 six teeth. 



June 1, 1897. 

 Dr. A. GtiNTHEB, E.E.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



A communication was read from Dr. John Anderson, P.E.S., 

 who sent for exhibition a coloured drawing of the Egyptian "Weasel 

 (^Mustela suhpalmata), accompanied by the following remarks : — 



" The three examples of the Egyptian Weasel now living in the 

 Society's Gardens were obtained in Lower Egypt, but the exact 

 locality where they were caught I shall not know until Mr. Birdwood 

 arrives in this country, I hope, about the middle of June. 



" On two previous occasions living examples of this species cap- 

 tured for me have unfortunately died on their way to this country. 



" I have made many enquiries about the Weasel in different parts 

 of Egypt, during my frequent visits to that country, and as it is 

 familiar to the natives by its well-known name Ersa, there can be 

 no question that they clearly understood the animal I had in view. 

 My informants have been unanimous in saying that it frequents 

 houses, and that it is found not only in villages and tosvns through- 

 out Lower Egypt, but even in the cities of Cairo and Alexandria. 



