Marsh Collection, Peabody Museum. 



151 



of its antero-external cusp, which is relatively high and coni- 

 cal, with its posterior portion little drawn out into a cutting 

 surface. The posterior cusp is sharp and blade-like, but pro- 

 portionally small. The two are separated by the usual vertical 

 fissure. There is a distinct anterior basal cusp, which has an 

 unusually external position. The presence of this cusp is a 

 very constant feature of the viverrines, and its external position 

 recalls the Herpestine section of the family. The internal 

 cusp is of only moderate proportions and is placed well for- 

 wards, as in the civets in general. 



The first molar is symmetrical in respect to the extension of 

 the external angles ; they are both equally extended and the 

 two sub-equal external cusps are placed well inwards from the 



24 



Figure 24. — Right upper jaw of Oodectes her 

 three times natural size. (Type.) 



Wort m an ; orown view: 



25 



crown margin. The internal cusp is large and lunate, and 

 there is a well-developed anterior and a very faint posterior 

 intermediate cusp. The second molar has the antero-external 

 angle well extended, but the posterior is short; with the 

 exception of this difference its structure is very like that of 

 the first. The third molar is not preserved, but the alveoli 

 indicate not only its existence but its goodly size as well. 



Vertebra?. — While the vertebral col- 

 umn is by no means complete, yet a 

 number of the vertebrae are preserved 

 and serve to give some idea of this part 

 of the skeleton. A portion of the 

 atlas, figure 25, shows that the perfo- 

 rations for the vertebral artery are the 

 same as those in the civets. The body 

 of the axis is rather long, sharply 

 keeled below, and there is a well-de- 

 veloped peg-like odontoid process. The 

 bodies of the remaining cervicals are short, depressed, and 

 keeled ; they are smaller in proportion to the size of thelumbars 

 than in any of the living civets. The lumbars increase in size 



Figure 25. — Portion of 

 atlas of Oodectes herpestoides 

 Wortmau ; top view; three 

 halves natural size. (Type.) 



