404 MR. ft. I. ROCOCK ON THE EXTERNAL 



surface of the metatarsus, which is for the most part covered with 

 hair, except for a relatively short, naked, proximally narrowed 

 area just above the plantar pad. In this respect the feet of 

 Jentinkia differ from those of the above-mentioned genera. 



In Bassariscus astutus the feet are short, compact, and some- 

 what like those of Genetta, with short, curved, sharp claws and 

 interdigital webs extending nearly up to the digital pads. They 

 differ from those of all the genera previously described in having 

 the lower side of the digits and of the webs covered with short 

 hair almost as far back as the plantar pads, which are thick and 

 strongly lobecl. Also in the fore foot there is a single submedian 

 carpal pad, which is elongated and narrowed proximally and much 

 narrower at its distal end than the plantar pad, with which it is 

 almost in contact. Furthermore, in the hind foot, the meta- 

 tarsal area is covered with hair right down to the plantar pad. 



It is mainly on the strength of the differences observed between 

 the feet of Bassariscus astutus and of Jentinkia sumichrasti, which 

 by most authors is referred to the genus Bassariscus, that I have 

 preserved the genus Jentinkia. It is necessary to repeat, how- 

 ever, that I have only seen dried skins of J. sumichrasti and only 

 one spirit-preserved example of B. astutus. Feet of dried skins 

 of the latter seem, however, to agree with those of that example ; 

 but admittedly more material is required. 



The feet of Ailurus differ from those of the American genera 

 in the complete concealment of all the pads beneath the clothing 

 of long and thick hair which everywhere covers the soles and in 

 the consequent reduction of the pads to apparently functionless 

 vestiges. Separation of the hair reveals vestiges of the pads as 

 areas of naked, somewhat thickened skin, those on the digits 

 being small subtriangular patches behind the base of the claws. 

 The carpal pad is represented by a small subcircular patch remote 

 from the plantar pad ; but there is no trace of metatarsal pads. 

 The plantar pads are reduced to transverse recurved areas, 

 expanded at each end towards the base of the first and fifth 

 digits and sending forwards two angular processes, longer on the 

 hind than on the fore foot, approximately in line with the third 

 and fourth digits. A further difference between these pads is 

 that the inner (preaxial) arm is longer than the outer (postaxial) 

 on the fore foot, the converse obtaining on the hind foot. The 

 digits are united by webbing to approximately the same extent as 

 in Bassariscus, and the claws are short, curved, and very sharp *. 



* This description of the feet agrees in a general way with that published by 

 Flower (P. Z. S. 1869, p. 754). He does not, however, mention the carpal pad, and 

 describes the plantar pad as a "larger, transversely oval, bare space - 4" [less than 

 half an inch] across covered by pink soft skin." I assume that he did not trace the 

 details of these pads to their full extent. Mivart would never have described the 

 claws of the Panda as " blunt " if he had ever been scratched by them. The hairs 

 on the soles of the foot of the Panda are a great disadvantage in climbing smooth 

 branches. It is only with considerable difficulty that the animal can slowly ascend a 

 stout branch, stripped of its bark, even when inclined at an angle of 45 degrees. It does 

 so by means of the penetrating power of the sharp claws. It is not easy to suggest 

 a meaning for the hairiness of the feet, since the animal does not live in a region of 

 perennial snow. Possibly, however, it is to obviate slipping on wet branches. 



