1907.] STRUCTURE OP THE MAMMAL GALIDICTIS, 815 



this it agrees with Herpestes and 8ur%cata &c. It is interesting 

 to note the classificatory value of these facts, which appear to 

 characterise the Yiverrinse and the Herpestinfe, and Avhich 

 therefore show that in this brain character at any rate Galidictis is 

 Herpestine rather than Yiverrine. It is furthermore to be observed 

 that the two crucial sulci are asymmetrical, that of the right side 

 reaching the median line at a point further back than the junc- 

 tion with the left crucial sulcus. The lateral sulcus differs in 

 some respects from that of allied Carnivora. It is apparently 

 very long and curves outwards anteriorly, reaching to a point 

 on a level with the end of the crucial sulcus. I take it therefore 

 that in this brain as in that of Viverra civetta and Nandinia 

 hinotata* the fissure is really a conjoined coronary and lateral. 

 If so, it contrasts with Herpestes where the two fissures are 

 separate. This combined fissure gives off in Galidictis an inwardly 

 and forwardly directed fissure, which I presume to be the ansate 

 sulcus ; that of the right half of the brain is situated further 

 forward than the other of the left side. This ansate sulcus does 

 not occur in a good many species among the Yiverridas. But it 

 is figured by Elliot Smith in Herpestes (though lying much 

 further back than in Galidictis), and it occurs in Hycena in a 

 situation corresponding to that which it occupies in Galidictis. 

 As bearing upon the systematic position of Galidictis, it is to be 

 noted that this sulcus seems to be absent in Viverra. 



The Sylvian fissure or, as Dr. Elliot Smith proposes to call the 

 sulcus in these animals, the " feline sylvian fissure " is long. 

 Dr. EUiot Smith has gone fully into his views t of the several 

 fissures which exist in this region. I have only to point out 

 to what forms Galidictis appears to show resemblances. The 

 Sylvian fissure (as it has been termed by many) is much longer 

 than in either Herpestes or Viverra. It is long, as in the Hyaena 

 and Proteles, as well as in Cryptoprocta % and Eupleres §. Behind 

 it lies a well-marked postsylvian as in Herjjestes. In front of this 

 latter — biit upon the left hemisphere only — is a small forwardly 

 directed branch of it which I presume to be one of the ectosylvian 

 fissures of Herpestes and other allied Carnivora. The suprasylvian 

 fissure is well developed, and bends rather downwards posteriorly 

 as in Viverra and Hycena, instead of being straight and bent rather 

 upward as in Herpestes pulverulentus. Dr. Elliot Smith com- 

 ments upon the small orbital fissure of the Ichneumon just 

 mentioned, which is so concealed owing to its forward position 

 by the olfactory that it has been actually asserted to be absent. 

 In Galidictis the fissure in question is quite like that of Viverra ; 

 for it is qiiite large and thus conspicuous as well as being lateral 



* Carlsson, "Ueber die syscematische Stelluns: cler Ifandinia hinotata," Zool. 

 Jahrb. xiii. 1900, pi. 36. fig. 7. 



t Loc. cit. p. 245, &c. 



J Beddard, " On tlie Visceral and Muscular Anatomj- of Cryptoprocta" P. Z. S. 

 1895, p. 434, woodcut fig. 5. 



§ Carlsson, "Ueber die svstematische Stellunff von JStcpleres gotidoti," Zool. 

 Jaiirb., Abtb. f. Syst. vol. xv'i. 1902, p. 230, pi. 10, fig. 11 s. 



