372 DR, ST. G. MIVART ON THE ARCTOIDEA. [Apr. 21, 



external ears are very little developed. The snout is truncated, 

 the nostrils opening forwards, not downwards. The feet are broad, 

 with wholly naked soles. The tail is shorter and more closely 

 haired than in Ilephitis. It is very variable in colour. 



There are 16 dorsal, 4 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 18 caudal vertebrae. 

 The pelvic limb is longer compared with the spine than in any other 

 Arctoid except Procyon and some Bears. The first lower true 

 molar is longer compared with the length of the skull than in any 

 other Arctoid. 



In the form of the skull and teeth Conepatus closely resembles 

 Mephitis. The auditory bulla is rounded, apparently undivided 

 internally, and most prominent towards the centre of the basis 

 cranii. The foramen condyloideum is conspicuous, but is placed far 

 forwards and close to the large foramen lacerum posterius. There is 

 a conspicuous carotid foramen, just behind the middle of the inner 

 margin of the bulla. The glenoid foramen is just above the audi- 

 tory meatus, which inclines forwards. There is a rather marked 

 paroccipital process, which is quite away fi-om the bulla and promi- 

 nent mastoid process, the latter depending quite to the level of the 

 floor of the meatus, if not below it. No ridge quite connects the 

 paroccipital and mastoid processes. The zygoma is delicate and weak, 

 and bears no postorbital process, while that of the frontal is only 

 a slight rounded prominence. The cranium is long and the muzzle 

 short. Sagittal ridge present or absent. There is a moderate single 

 or supraorbital foramen or two small foramina. The posterior 

 palatine foramina are placed in the front half of the palate. The 

 palate is broad and flat, and extends decidedly, though not much, 

 backwards behind the hinder molars. The angle of the mandible is 

 marked and is not pressed upwards. The canines are very small. 



Molar formula = P. |, M. \- 



The third upper premolar is small and triangular. The fourth 

 has a large middle and posterior outer cusp, and a very small anterior 

 outer cusp and a large internal cusp. The functional surface of the 

 tooth is triangular, broader behind than in front. The first upper 

 molar is large and quadrate, with a surface formed on the type of 

 that of the Badger. There appear to be four principal cusps, 

 whereof the two posterior are the smaller. There are also one or 

 two small cusps on the external cingulum, and there is a well-deve- 

 loped ridge-like internal cingulum. It is larger compared with the 

 fourth pi'emolar than in Mephitis. The second inferior jjremolar is 

 very small. The third and fourth have each one considerable median 

 cusp with a small cusp ou either side of it. The first inferior molar has 

 a single front cusp, followed by two, one internal and one external. 

 Behind them is a talon, which constitutes half the tooth or even 

 more. The second inferior true molar is small and rounded. 



Mellivora ^ — The genus Mellivora is the first genus of Arctoids 



1 See Shaw Zool. i. p. 470 (1800) ; Fischer, Syn. Mam. p. 151 ; Hardwick, 

 Liun. Trans, is. p. 115, pi. 9 ; Bennett, Zool. Gard. p. 13 ; De Blainville, 

 Ost^ologie, Mustela , Deam. Mam. p. 170 ; Schrebei'. Saug. p. 450, pi. 135 ; Sunde- 



