580 



Fossil remains of the smaller Carnivora 



[Sept. 



of a future paper, we will confine our present notice to the Cat. The 

 cranium represented in fig. 1 , PL XXVII. though somewhat mutilated, 

 is sufficiently perfect for comparison. The most serious injury which it 

 has sustained (as being the only one affecting the measurements) is a 

 slight crush or compression, which has apparently flattened, and per- 

 haps widened the cranium. The proportions between the fossil and the 

 skull of a common-sized wild or jungle cat are as follows : — the length 

 from posterior of occipital condyle to anterior of canine tooth being 

 taken as the unit or modulus, and those dimensions only being col- 

 lated, in which the greatest differences exist. The two skulls may be 

 understood to correspond in other respects. 



Length from post, of occipital condyle to ant. of canine 



tooth , assumed at 



Greatest breadth of cranium opposite mastoid processes,.. 

 Height of occiput from lower margin of foramen magnum 



to top of transverse ridge, 



Breadth across the occipital condyles, 



Ditto measured externally across most prominent part of 



line of molars, 



Height of orbit perpendicular, but measured in plane of 



orbit's margin, 



Recent. 



1,000 

 ,508 



1,000 

 ,581 



,301 



,267 



,333 

 ,346 



,427 



,489 



,289 



,257 



Fossil. 



The differences of proportion exhibited by the foregoing compari- 

 son are, as will be seen, very trivial. Setting aside the excess in 

 breadth of the fossil's cranium, which if not caused is at least exagge- 

 rated bv the crush before alluded to, there will remain no remarkable 

 points of difference except in the diameter of the orbit, and in the 

 width across the occipital condyles. The other variations probably 

 exceed not what may be detected in the skulls of cats belonging to one 

 species. There are, however, other differences of form not shewn by the 

 measurements. In the fossil, the post, orbitary apophysis is more 

 developed, and the plane of its projection more continuous with that of 

 the frontal bone. The depression of the cranium in rear of this apo- 

 physis is more marked, giving a greater width to the temporal fossae; — 

 the bullae of the mastoid processes have a more elongated shape, and 

 are generally larger ; and the transverse ridge of the occipital bone is 

 higher, sharper, and more prominent. All, or nearly all, these differ- 

 ences, tend to shew a greater development of the predacious facul- 

 ties in the fossil, — a circumstance further confirmed by the teeth, 

 which, though precisely corresponding in form with those of the 

 cat, are somewhat larger and stronger. 



The lower jaw occupying the central place in fig. 2, must have 



