ORDER CARNIVORA. I44I 



paratively small ; while its inner cusp, if present, is likewise relatively 

 small. There is never more than one lower molar (in. 2) behind 

 the carnassial, and if present that tooth is very small. In the exist- 

 ing genus the humerus has no entepicondylar foramen, while, at 

 least in the living species, each foot has but four digits, of which 

 the claws are non-retractile. The most generalised member of the 

 family is the genus Pa/hycena, of the Lower Pliocene of Greece, 

 France, and Persia, which has been included by many writers in 

 Ictitherium, but of which the carnassial teeth are essentially those of 



a Hyaena. The dental formula is I. -, C. -, Pm. -, M. -, or the 



. 3 I 42 



same as in Viverra. The first upper true molar is placed entirely 

 on the inner side of the large carnassial ; the lower carnassial, except 

 for its rather larger talon, is almost indistinguishable from that of the 

 Striped Hyaena, while the second lower true molar is comparatively 

 small. The first lower premolar is very minute, and in their com- 

 pressed crowns the other premolars are more like those of Viverra 

 than those of existing Hyaenas. The type species is comparatively 

 small, with slender jaws, and the muzzle is elongated after the 

 Viverroid fashion. The imperfectly known Lepthycena, of the Indian 

 Siwaliks, is closely allied to, if not identical with, the preceding 

 genus. The remaining forms may be included in the genus Hycena, 

 which may be divided into groups corresponding to the genera 

 of some writers, although there is an almost complete transition 

 from one to the other. In all cases there is never more than a 

 single upper true molar, while in existing forms the normal dental 



formula is I. — . C. — , Pm. -, M. -. In some fossil forms, however, 



3i 3i 



the first upper premolar may be absent, while in others there may 

 be a small first lower premolar or a second lower true molar. 



Of the more generalised forms classed in the Lychycenine group 

 (Zyc/iycena), as represented by H. macrostoma of the Pliocene of India, 

 and H. chceretis of that of Greece and Samos, the muzzle is long, the 

 premolars, of which there are four in the lower jaw, are compressed, 

 the first upper true molar is placed partially behind the carnassial, 

 the lower carnassial has an inner cusp, and there was probably a 

 second lower true molar. In the Hycenictine group (ITycenictis), 

 which likewise occurs in the Pliocene of India and Europe, the 

 second lower true molar is still retained as a very minute tooth, but 

 the premolars are more like those of existing forms, and the com- 

 paratively large m. 1 is placed entirely on the inner side of the car- 

 nassial. The muzzle is also comparatively short. In the Indian 

 H. sivalensis the first lower premolar is lost, although retained in 

 the European H. chceretis. This group forms, indeed, a complete 



