396 ME. R, I. POCOCK ON THE EXTERNAL 



each side. Submental vibrisste are also present. In this genus, 

 therefore, the tufts of facial vibrissse are normal for the Carni- 

 vora, consisting- of mystacials, superciliaries, two tufts of genals, 

 the lower behind the angle of the mouth, the upper below and 

 behind the angle of the eye, su.bmentals, and an unpaired 

 interramal tuft. 



I have no notes or sketches of the facial vibrissse of Bassari- 

 cijon^ but from Beddard's remark that there are five or six long 

 vibrissse forming the whiskers, three or four upon each cheek and 

 two or three under the chin, I think it may be inferred that this 

 genus falls into line with Procyon and Potos in having these 

 tactile hairs normally developed. 



In Ailurus the tufts of vibrissfe are also normal in number and 

 distribution, and the upper genal tuft, represented by one or two 

 vibrissae, is situated low down on the cheek, only a little above 

 the lower, and is often difficult to detect amongst the normal 

 hairs which thickly clothe this portion of the head. 



Similar tufts are present in the genera Nasua, Bassariscus, 

 and Potos, being better developed and consisting of stouter 

 vibrissse in Nasua than in the others. In two examples of Potos 

 the upper and lower genals are represented by a single vibrissa 

 each. In Bassariscits the upper genal tuft is set high up rather 

 close to the angle of the eye, as is usual in predatory Mustelidse. 

 In Potos and Nasua it is lower down the cheek. 



In AilurojJoda the mystacial vibrissee are all short and ob- 

 viously of little import as in the Ursidse. On the single stuffed 

 specimen examined I was unable to satisfy myself as to the 

 presence of the other tufts. 



The Muzzle and Rhinariiim. 



In Procyon the snout is moderately lengthened, and projects 

 considerably beyond the lower jaw. The rhinarium is large and 

 naked above. In front it has no central groove or, at most, a 

 short indistinct one below. The upper margin is flat or evenly 

 convex, not biconvex, and the width is miich greater than the 

 depth, but less than the combined depth of the rhinarium and of 

 the upper lip. There is no trace of a philtrum, the upper lip 

 being continuously, although comparatively scantily, hairy .across 

 the middle line, and the inferior edge of the rhinarium ti-ansverse 

 in the middle and upcurled laterally. The internarial septum is 

 broad and the infranarial portions moderately deep. 



In Bassariscus astuttis the muzzle is almost as elongated as in 

 Procyon, the width of the rhinarium being much less than the 

 combined heights of the rhinarium and of the upper lip ; but 

 the lip is cleft by a long narrow philtrum. The rhinarium itself 

 is very like that of some Felidse and Viverridse, its upper edge 

 being horizontal, with rounded angles from the anterior aspect 

 and its inferior edge strongly angled mesially, where it passes into 

 the philtrum. The internarial septum is moderately wide and 



