148 Wortman — Studies of Eocene Mammalia in the 



The character of the species, as exhibited by these three 

 specimens, may be stated as follows : It is considerably smaller 

 than V. gracilis J the first premolar is two-rooted; the third 

 and fourth premolars have anterior and posterior basal cusps 

 and posterior accessory cusps which are absent on the second ; 

 the heel of the sectorial is proportionally narrower, and not 

 quite so distinctly basin-shaped, as in V. gracilis. The last 

 molar has a distinctly narrower, more trenchant heel and does 

 not exhibit the two cusps seen in V. gracilis. The canine is 

 long, slender, and considerably recurved. The remains indi- 

 cate an animal of the size of the common weasel, the slender 

 jaws and sharp cutting teeth giving evidence of a very highly 

 carnivorous habit. 



mm 



Length of inferior molars and premolars 21* 



Length of inferior molars 7* 



Length of iirst molar . 4*5 



Width of first molar , _ _ 2*5 



Depth of jaw at inferior sectorial 4*5 



The principal type specimen was found on Dry Creek, 

 Bridger Basin, by Messrs. Lamothe and Chew, although other 

 specimens are from Grizzly Buttes. 



Oodectes herpestoides gen. et sp. nov. 



Odn, an egg- and dedes, a biter, in allusion to the habits of the Ichneumon. 



A genus of small viverrine-like animals, having the dental 

 formula I. f , C. \, Pm. J, M. §, with trigon of inferior molars 

 high, the cusps sub-equal, and the principal inferior shear high 

 and very oblique; inferior molars with trenchant or slightly 

 basin-shaped heels ; transversely extended superior molars, with 

 tubercular crowns ; anterior and posterior external augles of 

 first molar about equally extended, and antero-external angle 

 of second more extended than posterior ; a superior sectorial, 

 with sharp blade-like principal cusps, and premolars without 

 posterior accessory cusps. 



The remains upon which this genus and species are founded 

 consist of the larger part of the skeleton of one individual, 

 considerably broken, but at the same time with nearly all the 

 characteristic portions represented. I associate with this type 

 two other individuals, one of which is represented by a left 

 lower jaw, broken away at the base of the coronoid, but con- 

 taining all the teeth, with the exception of the incisors, in a state 

 of good preservation ; the third specimen is the posterior por- 

 tion of a left mandibular ramus of an immature individual, in 

 which the fourth premolar was just coming into position. 





