1122 On the Cat-toed Subplantigrades. [Nov. 



naturally looks for the dental prototype of Ailurus. But I apprehend 

 that several of the genera to be presently enumerated as the probable 

 components of the group of Cat-toed Plantigrades, will be hereafter 

 found to exhibit a closer resemblance and more harmonious blending 

 with the Ailurine type of dentition as of general structure. 



Bony carcase. — I have not now a perfect skeleton of Ailurus to refer 

 to ; so far as I can trust my notes, the bones are as follows : — Cervical 

 7. Dorsal 13. Lumbar 5. Sacral 3. Caudal 22. Carpal 8. Metacarpal 

 5. Digital 3, for each toe fore and aft. Tarsal 9. Metatarsal 5. Ribs 

 13 pairs, whereof 5 pairs are false, and 11 true. The short strong 

 and highly articulated limbs, together with the finely harmonising 

 flexile wrists and ankles, bear an extreme resemblance to the extremi- 

 ties of the Martens (Flavigula*) and Screwtails, and have much simili- 

 tude with those of the Bears (Helarctos) but form a complete contrast 

 with the extremities of the Cats and of the Civets. On the other hand, 

 the highly mobile digits, disencumbered of the palmary and plantary 

 mass, are much more similar to those of the Cats than to those of the 

 Bears, and bear a resemblance amounting almost to identity to the 

 digits of the Screwtails and Martens. The 5th or internal digit is 

 very little withdrawn from the front, and is forthcoming alike in the 

 anteal and posteal extremities. Of the other 4 digits the 2 central are 

 nearly equal and the 2 lateral also, but with an andromorphous bias, 

 and the whole are united as far forward as the terminodigital pads 

 by a highly elastic membrane, which allows the freest play to the 

 digits. f The thick socks however in which the feet of the Ailuri are 

 completely enveloped, must impede their power of feeling and even of 

 raptorial grasping, as compared with the paws of the Martens and 

 Paradoxures, though the extreme mobility of the unguical phalanges 

 still leaves the sharp and compressed talons almost as serviceable as 

 in either of those genera. The talons of the Wahs are as highly 

 curved, as much compressed, and as sharp, as in the Screwtails or iu 

 the Martens, and I might add, in the Cats, for there is hardly any 

 appreciable difference between the four genera in those respects, and 



* In this animal the dorsal vertebrae (and ribs) are 14 : the lumbar 7 : the sacral 4: 

 the caudal 26 : the rest as in Ailurus ut supra. The teeth of Flavigula (molars) are f . 

 It is therefore a Martes, not a Mustela. 



t See accompanying- sketches. 



