154 Wortman — Studies of Eocene Mammalia, etc. 



The manus, figure 30, is sufficiently preserved to furnish a 

 fair idea of its organization. All the carpal bones are present 

 with the exception of the lunar, magnum, and pisiform. The 

 scaphoid, centrale, trapezium, and trapezoid, with the proximal 

 portions of the first three metacarpals attached, were found in 

 the position shown in the accompanying figure, and there is 

 reason to believe that the positions of the bones are substan- 

 tially correct. The scaphoid is relatively large, and is articu- 

 lated distally with the trapezium, 

 trapezoid, and centrale. The trape- 

 zium is of moderate size and sup- 

 ports the pollex in the usual way, 

 which is not to any very great 

 degree opposable, if at all. The 

 trapezoid is rather large, of an im- 

 perfectly triangular form, and sup- 

 ports the second metacarpal. The 

 centrale may be said to have an out- 

 line intermediate between a quad- 

 rate and triangular pattern ; it rests 

 unequally upon trapezoid and mag- 

 num, and lies under the junction of 

 the scaphoid and lunar. The unci- 

 form resembles that of the modern 

 civets, and presents a lateral facet 

 for articulation with the lunar. The 

 cuneiform is flattened from above 

 downwards, and articulated with the 

 unciform in quite the usual way. 

 Of the metacarpals, that of the pollex is the heaviest, the 

 second and third being more slender, with rather narrow 

 proximal extremities. On the upper portion of the shaft of 

 the second is seen a prominent tuberosity, and a less conspicu- 

 ous one upon the third near the proximal extremity. These 

 bony protuberances, if normal, probably served for the attach- 

 ment of the long and short carpal extensors, since, in position, 

 they correspond nearly to the insertion of these muscles. The 

 length of the metapodials cannot be ascertained, but they were 

 presumably short. Their distal ends are hemispherical and 

 keeled like those of the modern civets. Some fragments of the 

 proximal row of phalanges are preserved, and these are again 

 like those of Herpestes and the Binturong. One perfect 

 phalanx, figure 31, belonging probably to the second row of 

 the fore foot, is long and slender, notably more so than in the 

 Binturong,* wherein they are longer than usual in the Yiver- 

 ridse. No ungual phalanges are known. 



[To be continued.] 



Figure 30. — Left manus of 

 Oodestes herpestoides Wortman ; 

 two and one-fourth times natural 

 size. (Type.) 



