VIVERRA HASTINGSI^ m THE EEENCH PHOSPHORITES. 



373 



22. On the Occurrence of the so-called Yiverra Hastingsi^ of 

 HoEDWELL in the Preitch Phosphorites. By R. Ltdekker, 

 Esq., B.A., r.G.S. (Read March 23rd, 1892.) 



Some few years ago ^ the late Mr. William Davies described and 

 figured the imperfect skull of a small Carnivore from the Upper 

 Eocene (Lower Oligocene) of Hordwell, under the title of Viverra 

 Hastingsice. With his accustomed care, Mr. Davies pointed out 

 that the species so named agreed very closely with a so-called 

 Viverra from the Lower Miocene of St. Gerand-le-Puy, in the 

 Allier, known as V. antiqua, and also with one from the Quercy 

 Phosphorites described by M. FilhoP as Viverra angustidens. In- 

 deed, Mr. Davies gives no characters whereby V. Hastingsice can be 

 distinguished from V. angustidens, at that time known only by 

 several mandibular rami. 



The chief point of resemblance to V. angustidens was shown by 

 the great height of the blade of the lower carnassial tooth in V. 

 Hastingsice. It was also pointed out that the first upper premolar 

 of the latter was of unusually small size iu regard to the other 

 teeth ; and since the same feature occurs in the lower jaw of V. an- 

 gustidens (the first lower premolar of V. Hastingsice is wanting), we 

 have another point of resemblance between the English and Erench 

 Civets. 



It may clear the ground here to say that the skull figured by 

 M. Eilhol ^ as Viverra antiqua has been referred by Dr. Schlosser * to 

 Herpestes lemanensis^ which has lower teeth of quite a difierent type. 



8o far as I am aware 

 no description of the 

 cranium of VI angusti- 

 dens from the Phospho- 

 rites has hitherto been 

 given. Recently, how- 

 ever, the British Mu- 

 seum has acquired the 

 hinder part of the cra- 

 nium of a Civet from 

 those deposits, of which 

 the palatal aspect is 

 represented in the 

 accompanying figure. 

 With the exception of 

 the last molar, the 

 hinder cheek-teeth are 

 in a fine state of pre- 

 servation ; and on com- 



Imperfect palate of Viverra 



nat. size, from the Quercy Phos- 

 phorites. 



pmf 



: premolars. 



: molars. 



1 Geol. Mag. for 1884, p. 437. 



2 Ann. Sci. Geol. vol. vii. (1876) art. 7, p. 144. 



3 Ihid. vol. X. (1879) art. 3, p. 152, pi. xix. 



* Beitr. zur Pal. Oesterr.-Ung. vol. viii. (1890) pp. 17, 18. 



