434 W. Davies — Neiv British Eocene Carnivores. 



upper and lower teeth in close contact, and their outer surfaces only 

 partially exposed, there was some uncertainty with regard to its 

 natural position among the Carnivores, although supposed to belong 

 to the Viverridee. Having recently detached a portion of the right 

 ramus of the lower jaw, and fully developed the last four molars 

 of the maxilla and mandible from the enclosing matrix, this sup- 

 position is confirmed ; for the upper carnassial and tubercular teeth 

 closely resemble in form and structure the corresponding teeth in 

 Eerpestes ; but are unlike the same teeth in Viverra, as represented 

 by the existing species, V. civetta and V. zibetha; they are also 

 unlike those of Genetta. 



The maxillary teeth consist of three premolars, the carnassial 

 (pm. 4), and two tubercular molars (m, 1 and m. 2). The combined 

 length of the last four teeth of the maxilla is 1-05 inches. 



The first premolar (pm, 1) is very small and placed close to the 

 canine ; pm. 2 is also small relatively to pm. 3 ; in Eerpestes these 

 teeth differ but little relatively to each other as regards size ; pm. 3 

 is low-crowned, with a well-defined posterior accessory lobe and also 

 a small inner lobule, always present in Eerpestes and Genetta, but not 

 in Viverra ; it is, however, relatively smaller in the fossil. Its dimen- 

 sions are : antero-posterior diameter 0-3 ; vertical diameter 02. 

 The carnassial (pm. 4) accords in all essential characters with the 

 corresponding tooth in Eerpestes. The anterior lobe of the blade 

 is conical and stout, the posterior lobe is relatively lower than in 

 Eerpestes, and has a sharp cutting edge, the internal tubercle is pro- 

 portionally smaller ; the anterior accessory lobe is also small. 

 On the outer posterior base of the front lobe is an additional lobule, 

 not very prominent, which intercepts the cingulum. This lobule is 

 not present on the carnassial of any recent member of the family that 

 I have examined. The dimensions are — 



Antero-posterior diameter 0'43 



Vertical diameter of anterior blade 0-27 



„ ,, posterior blade 0-16 



Anterior transverse diameter 0-27 



The first molar (m. 1) is large, tricuspid and triangular in form, 

 outwardly it recedes obliquely backwards, the anterior transverse 

 diameter greatly exceeding the posterior. The outer cusps are 

 small and conical, the anterior cusp being the largest ; they 

 are separated from the inner cusp or talon by a deep depression, 

 and from the outer margin or cingulum by a relatively broad and 

 flat intervening space ; hence the anterior cusp rises near the middle 

 of the tooth transversely. The second tubercular (m. 2) is small 

 and much compressed antero-posteriorly. The canines of either side 

 are present, and in natural position relatively to the other teeth, but 

 the apex of each is broken. One incisor, the third of the right side, 

 is also present. The dimensions of the respective teeth are as follows : 



Antero-posterior diameter of 1st molar 0*3 



Transverse ,, ,, 0-4 



Antero-posterior ,, 2nd molar 0-10 



Transverse „ ,, u-25 



Antero-posterior diameter of base of crown of canine .... 0-26 



