122 MISS DOROTHY M. A. BATE ON [June 16, 



extinct mammals, and partly with earth and rubbish that had 

 filtered down through the cracks in the rocks above. This 

 accounted for the fact that the fossils in question, which are pro- 

 bably of the same age as Hippopotamus minibtus, were found 

 together with many teeth and bones of the Goat, several small 

 rodents, and other recent species. 



On comparing the left mandibular ramus (PI. X. fig. 2), it appears 

 to be that of a carnivore nearly allied to Genetta genetta, which is 

 still found living on the opposite shores of Palestine. On the 

 other hand, it presents many similarities to Plesictis croizeti of 

 the Oligoeene deposits of France, a mandible of which was 

 originally figured by M. Pomel from a specimen found in the 

 Department of Allier (Bull. Soc. Geol. France, t. iv., 1846-47, p. iv). 

 A more perfect lower jawbone was procured by Dr. Forsyth Major 

 from the same deposit, and both are now in the collection of the 

 British Museum, The genus Plesictis is variously placed by 

 difierent authors — by some among the Viverridce and by others 

 among the Mitstelidce. In a work published in 1853 *, M. Pomel 

 places Plesictis with the Viverridce, while Mr. Lydekker, in the 

 'Catalogue of Fossil Mammalia' (Brit. Mus. i. p. 183), includes 

 the genus among the Ilicstelidce, at the same time saying that "In 

 the above mentioned general characters the genus indicates 

 viveri'ine tendencies, and the transition to the extinct Stenoplesictis 

 is so gradual that the viverrine and musteline families are 

 pra,ctically united by the two genera." 



The Cyprus fossil agrees with, and at the same time differs from, 

 both G. genetta and P. croizeti, and that so impartially, that it is 

 a matter of extreme difficulty to decide with which group it ought 

 most properly to be associated. The scanty material adds to this 

 uncertainty, which would probably be removed were the skull and 

 upper dentition of this species known. However, in consideration 

 of its much more recent age compared with that of the Oligoeene 

 fossil, it is proposed, at all events for the present, to include it 

 among the Genets under the name of 



Genetta plesictoides, sp. n. (Plate X. figs. 2-6.) 



The mandibular ramus is intermediate in size between those of 

 G. genetta (PL X. fig. 1) and P. croizeti (PI. X. fig. 7), being more 

 robust than that of the former and slightly less so than that of the 

 latter. The anterior mai'gin of the inner aspect of the coronoid 

 process is somewhat deeply excavated, a feature which is found in 

 neither of the last- mentioned species. The three posterior pre- 

 molars and first molar are considerably worn ; the small anterior 

 premolar is rather damaged and its shape consequently uncertain ; 

 while the second molar is absent, though the clearly defined 

 alveolus shows it to have been furnished with a single root. 



The lower carnassial is distinguished from that of P. croizeti, 

 G. genetta, and other Viverridce in the area between the three 



* Cat. Vert. Poss de la Loire, etc. (Paris, 1853). 



