444 H. Lydekker — Notes on Fossil Carnivora and Rodentia. 



the width of the palate are indeed nearly the same as in some 

 individuals of Canis aureus, but the palate is much longer ; and the 

 resemblance of the specimen to the cranium of Canis vulpes is so 

 close, that, in spite of its superior size, it appears necessary to 

 refer it provisionally to that species. 



Apparently the earliest well-authenticated horizon ' from which 

 C. vidpes has been hitherto obtained is the Norfolk Forest-bed ; ^ 

 and, if the ascribed origin of the present specimen be really correct, 

 the occurrence of the same, or a closely allied, species in the Eed 

 Crag is a matter of considerable interest. 



In the following table the dimensions of the fossil are compared 

 with those of a full-sized skull of a recent Canis vulpes, viz. : 



Fossil. Eecent. 



Interval between 3rd incisor and hinder border of m 1 0-074 .... 0-064 



Width at m. 2 0-047 0-043 



Intermolar space at pm. 4 0-025 .... 0-023 



Interval between canine and carnassial 0-034 .... 0-030 



Ant. post, diameter of canine 0-009 .... 0-008 



Length of pni. 2 0-011 0-009 



„ ,, 3 0-012 0.010 



„ ,, 4 0-017 .... 0-016 



,, m. 1 0-011 0-010 



Width „ „ 0-015 .... 0-013 



Hy^narotos, from China. 



A second right lower true molar of a Hycenarctos, from the Pleisto- 

 cene (?) of the South of China, indicates the extension of the range 

 of the genus into that country. The specimen, of which a figure 

 will be given in the catalogue, does not affoi'd sufficient characters 

 for the determination of the species to which it belonged. 



Hy^nodon, from the Headon beds. 



The mandible of a Hijcenodon from the Pleadon beds of Hordwell 

 agrees precisely with that of H.. minor, Gervais, and may be referred 

 to that species.^ 



Pterodon, from the Bemhridge beds. 



Some lower molar teeth of a Pterodon from the Bembridge lime- 

 stone of the Isle of Wight agree so closely with the corresponding 

 teeth of P. dasyuroides that there is every probability of their belong- 

 ing to the same species. 



1 In a paper by Messrs. A. and R. Bell on the Crag, published in the " Proc. 

 Geologists' Assoc." vol. ii. Nos. 5 and 6, Canis vulpes is recorded from the Norwich 

 Crag ; but no authority is given for the statement. 



8 Vide Newton, Geol. Mag. Dec. II. Vol. VII. p. 153(1880). Mr. Newton 

 has some doubt of the correctness of the specific determination ; but it appears to 

 me to be in all probability correct. 



3 The exact position of the bed from which this Hyanodon was obtained is given 

 in the Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxix. p. 571. Prof. Boyd-Dawkius {Ibid. 

 vol. xxxvi. p. 383) mentions H. leptorhynchus from the Headon beds ; the statement 

 probably resting on a wrong identification of the present specimen. 



