372 NOTES ON THE CANID^ OF THE WHITE RIVER OLIGOCENE. 



in Canis. As in Daphcenus, the infraorbital foramen is placed very near to the orbit, 

 while in the modern genera it is much in advance of the orbit. The arrangement seen in 

 Cynodictis is due chiefly to the anterior position of the orbit and in much less degree to 

 the backward shifting of the foramen itself. The palatine jjrocesses of the maxillaries are 

 short and narrow, corresponding to the shortness and slenderness of the muzzle, and they 

 resemble those of Daphcenm in being slightly concave transversely, with a faintly marked 

 median ridge along the line of suture. 



The palatines have nearly the same shape and proportions as in Canis latrcins (though 

 they are relatively somewhat narrower) and extend forward to the anterior edge of p ^ ; 

 the palatine notch is more deeply incised than in either Canis or Vulpcs and is nearly as 

 deep as in Urocyon. Only a single posterior palatine foramen is visible on each side. 

 As a whole, the bony palate resembles that of Canis more than that of Daphamus in its 

 much less abrupt narrowing at the level of the sectorials. The posterior nares have 

 about the same shape and position as in Vol pes and have a similar median spinedike 

 process on the anterior border. 



The pleryyoid* terminate in longer, more distinct and more thickened hamular pro- 

 cesses than in the recent genera, some of which, like Urocyon, have no vestige of such 

 processes. From the descending process of the alisphenoid is given off a prominent 

 lateral spine, which, in Canis and Vulpes, is represented only by a low ridge. 



The mandible has a slender and compressed horizontal ramus, which tapers rapidly 

 toward the anterior end ; it forms a long symphysis with its fellow of the oppo- 

 site side and curves very gently upward at the chin. The ventral border describes a 

 somewhat sinuous course, curving downward beneath the sectorial, from which point it 

 rises very gradually and regularly to the symphysis, while beneath the masseteric fossa 

 it is concave. There is no trace whatever of the lobation which is found in so many 

 of the existing Canidoz, both alopec 'id- ami thooids. The ascending ramus, which forms 

 an obtuse angle with the horizontal, has a proportionately smaller aiit'-ro-posterior width 

 than in Daphcenus, though a greater one than in the modern genera ; the coronoid 

 process, in particular, is much narrower than in the former, and the sigmoid notch is 

 wider than in the living forms. The masseteric fossa is very deeply impressed, but it 

 lias no such definitely marked upper boundary and it does not extend forward so far 

 beneath the molars as in Canis, features of resemblance to the alopecoids. The angle 

 is formed by a short, slender and blunt, hook-like process. The condyle, which is not 

 in any way peculiar, is elevated much more above the level of the molar teeth than in 

 Daphamus. 



The cranial foramina are very minute and hence are often difficult to detect, save 

 in exceptionally well-preserved specimens, a very slight degree of crushing being often 

 sufficient to obliterate them. In general, they may be described as characteristically 



