CHARACTERS OF THE PARADOXURIN^. 401 



posterior flap from the back of the pinna and the continviity of 

 the rim of the pinna with the upper end of the anterior flap. 

 This flap, however, is much more widely and less deeply 

 emarginate than in P. larvatus. 



In Arctogalidia the cartilaginous ridges of the ear resemble in 

 a general way those of Paradoxurus larvatus, but there is a 

 distinct though small ridge on the outer side of the antitragus. 

 The bursa, however, differs in one or two points. The margin 

 of its anterior rim is not so deeply or abruptly excised, and its 

 posterior rim is continuous above with the rim of the ear and 

 does not arise behind it as in that genus. Hence the orifice of 

 the bui'sa is more closed, and its posterior wall does not form 

 a flap freely movable on its base of attachment. In other words, 

 the bursa in Arctogalidia is more like that of Viverricida malac- 

 censis and Civettictis civetta than of Paradoxurus larvatus and 

 Genetta. 



In Nandinia hinotata the inner of the two anterior carti- 

 laginous ridges diflers from that of Paradoxurus larvatus and of 

 Arctogalidia in the larger size and angular shape of its two 

 processes. As in Arctogalidia, the antitragus carries an external 

 ridge. The bursa resembles that of Paradoxurus, Arctictis, and 

 Genetta in the origin of its posterior flap from the back of the 

 pinna, but the angular excision of its anterior flap is shallower 

 than in Paradoxicrus, but deeper than in Arctictis. 



From the foregoing account it will, I think, be clear that it is 

 impossible to make use of the ears in diflferentiating the Yiverrinaj 

 from the Paradoxurinas. Nevertheless, within the limits of these 

 two subfamilies the structure of these organs, and especially of 

 the bursa, will probably be found useful for distinguishing 

 genera. 



I am quite unable to surmise what meaning is to be attached 

 to the variation in the structure of the bursa, by which the 

 genera above discussed may be grouped as follows : — 



a. Posterior flap of bursa arising above behind the rim of the 

 pinna Genetta, Paradoxurus, Arctictis, Nandinia. 



h. Posterior flap of bursa continuous above with the rim of the 

 pinna Viverricula, Civettictis, Arctogalidia. 



Since the condition of the bursa found in Canidfe, Felidfe, and 

 some of the Arctoid Carnivora is the same as that described 

 under heading a, this condition is probably the primitive one. 

 Probably, also, the condition described under heading b is the 

 beginning of the suppression of the bursa, a process which is 

 completed in some ^Eluroid and some Ai-ctoid Carnivores. 



The Perfume -gland and External Genitalia 0/ Paradoxurus. 



One of the earliest descriptions of the gland and genitalia of 

 Paradoxurus was published under the name Platychista pallasii 

 (^= Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) by Otto (Nova Acta Acad. Leop.- 

 Car. xvii. p. 1089, pi. Ixxiii, 1835). Except in the structui'e of 



