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



Tores. The postorbital processes of the frontal are smaller than in 

 Ufsus. The palate is very broad, and much more prolonged behind 

 the molars than in Ursus \ The zygomata are short and extend 

 straight backwards and outwards without being arched outwards. 

 Instead of lateral processes to the basioccipital there are processes of 

 the temporal bones. 



The teeth are relatively very small, and the first upper incisor is 

 absent or soon falls away. 



In the milk-dentition, the second and third molars both above and 

 below are very small and simple. The fourth upper one has two 

 outer cusps and a large internal cusp, with a minute cusp in front of 

 the first of the two outer ones. It is much more sectorial than is 

 the fourth premolar, which replaces it. The fourth lower molar 

 has three outer cusps ; the most anterior is very small, the next very 

 high, and the third rather small. There is a fourth minute cusp 

 inside the middle outer cusp and a fifth inside the third outer cusp, 

 and slightly smaller than is the third cusp. 



The tongue has a large lytta. Large fungiform papillae are scat- 

 tered all over the tongue's surface. The flattened papillae are rather 

 small and inconspicuous. The circumvallate papillae are remark- 

 able : there are two series of very conspicuous and very close-set 

 papillae, which together form a very obtuse angle. 



The liver is very like that of Nasua or Procyon, only the right 

 central lobe is rather smaller compared with the right lateral lobe, 

 and the left central is very small. 



The kidney is described in the Catalogue of the Royal College of 

 Surgeons as having two mamillae to each of its lobes. 



The brain has the same characters as has the brain of Ursus. 



Classification of the Arctoidea. 



With good reason has Professor Flower remarked upon the diffi- 

 culty of subdividing the great Arctoid group in a satisfactory manner. 

 The characters most available for this purpose are the dental cha- 

 racters ; but these are eminently adaptive ones, and would, taken 

 alone, serve but to mislead the inquirer, as we have seen with Pro- 

 teles and Hyesna, Arctictis, Cynogale, and Cryptoprocta, amongst 

 the ^luroids. 



The Bears form a small and very natural section, characterized 

 not only by their peculiar dentition, but also by their comj)lex kid- 

 neys and completely plantigrade feet. 



Similarly the Otters, with their conglomerate kidneys and peculiar 

 cranial structure, also form a small, well-marked group. 



The Badger, with its caudal pouch and exceptional dentition, pre- 

 sents another type round which a few genera may be grouped, while 

 the Raccoon and Coati form another section, to which Bassaris and 

 JSassaricyon may be added, while Cercoleptes can, I think, find no 

 other allies better suited for its adhesion than are these. The same I 

 believe to be the case with Ailurus, but Ailuropus presents us with 



" The palate in TJrsus may be very little prolonged beyond the last molar, as 

 in TI. omaiiis, no. 815 in the Museum of the Eoyal College of Surgeons. 



