1882.J; '*•" [Cope. 



I would then divide the fissiped carnivora into two tribes as follows : 



External nostril occupied by the complex maxilloturbinal bone ; ethmo- 

 turbinals confined to the posterior part of the nasal fossa ; the inferior 

 ethmoturbinal of reduced size Hypomycteri. 



External nostril occupied by the inferior ethmoturbinal and the reduced 

 maxilloturbinal. „ Epimycteki. 



While no doubt transitional forms will be discovered, the types at 

 present known fall very distinctly into one or the other of these divisions. 

 The characters are readily preceived on looking into the nares of well 

 cleaned specimens. The Hypomycteri stand next to the Pinnipedia, since 

 the maxilloturbinal bone has the same anterior development in that group. 



In searching for definitions of the families, it is necessary to be precise 

 as to the definition of terms. The meaning of the word sectorial is in this 

 connection important, sinee there are so many transitional forms be- 

 tween the sectorial and tubercular tooth. A sectorial tooth then of the 

 upper jaw, is one which has at least two external tubercles, which are the 

 the homologues of the median and posterior lobes of the sectorial of the 

 cat. By the flattening and emargination of their continuous edges, the 

 sectorial blade is formed. One or two interior, and an anterior lobe, may or 

 may not exist. In the genera of the Procyonidce, except in Bassaris, the 

 two external tubercles do not form a blade. The inferior sectorial tooth 

 differs from the tubercular only in having an anterior lobe or cusp, which 

 belongs primitively to the interior side. The inferior sectorial teeth with 

 large heels, as in Viverridse and Canidae, I have called tubercular-secto- 

 rials. The sectorial blade is formed by the union and emargination of the 

 edges of the anterior and the principal external cusp. This blade is not 

 well developed in the genus Cynogale and still less in the Procyonidce and 

 Ursidce. The families are then defined as follows. 



Hypomycteri. 



I. No sectorial teeth in either jaw. 



Toes 5-5 Cercoleptidoe. 



II. Sectorial teeth in both jaws. 

 a. Toes 5-5 



j9. No alisphenoid canal. 



True molars § Procyonidce. 



" " % Mustelidce. 



fifi. An alisphenoid canal. 



Molars quadrate, f Aeluridm. 



Molars longitudinal, § Ursidce. 



aa. Toes 5-4 or 4-4. * 

 Sectorials well developed, an alisphenoid canal Oanidce. 



