
URSIDZ. 107 
referred to it’ having an upper carnassial of the Hyenarctos type ; 
but it must be distinctly understood that its separation from the 
true Dogs is a purely arbitrary one, it being connected with the 
group through Cephalogale just as intimately as it is with the Bears 
through Hycenarctos. 
Subfamily Caninz#. 
Genus CYNODICTIS, Bravard and Pomel’. 
Dentition and Affinities—In typical forms the dentition of this 
genus 1s numerically the same as that of typical forms of Canis, or 
|i = C. = Pm. 7 M. = In some species, e. g. C. compressidens, how- 
ever, the last lower molar is normally very small, and in some in- 
stances is entirely absent’®; those races in which this tooth is absent 
being frequently distinguished by the varietal name of viverroides. 
In those races the dentition is very close to,certain Viverroids (e. g. 
Amphactis and Herpestes), the blade of the lower carnassial being 
tall and the inner cusp large, and placed relatively far forwards, the 
‘“‘cusp-line” being transverse. The dentition of Herpestes is, however, 
distinguished by the presence of an inner cusp to the upper third 
premolar, and by the smaller size of the second lower true molar. 
In other forms (e. g. C. leptorhyncha*) the blade of the lower car- 
nassial is relatively low, the inner cusp small, and the “ cusp-line ” 
slightly oblique; and the dentition is then but very slightly removed 
from that of some of the least)specialized species of Canis, like the 
existing C. bengalensis and the fossil Indian C. curvipalatus (although 
a “meinocreodont” character is more marked in the Cynodictis) ; 
and it thus seems probable that there is an almost perfect transition 
from Cynodictis to Canis, the genera Cynodon (distinguished by the 
absence of a cusp on the posterior cutting-edge of pm. 4) and Amphi- 
cynodon being allied forms. One variety of C. leptorhyncha has, 
however, lost its last lower molar, and thereby shows a viverrine 

1 Tt should be observed that the writer, after a suggestion of Filhol, refers the 
so-called Hyenarctos hemicyon to this genus, under the name of Dinocyon 
hemicyon (vide ‘ Paleontologia Indica,’ op. cit.). 
2 Notice sur les Ossemens Fossiles de la Débruge, p. 5 (1850). This refer- 
ence is given by P. Gervais in the Zool. et Pal. Frangaises, 2nd ed. p. 216. The 
present writer has been unable to find the memoir quoted in any of the lists to 
which he has access, and it is probable that it was published on the Continent 
in a separate form, and that copies never reached the English scientific libraries. 
The writer is unable to say whether any specific names were given in this 
memoir. 
8 Vide Filhol, Ann. Soc. Sci. Phys. Nat. Toulouse, 1882 (‘Notes sur quel- 
ques Mammiféres fossiles des Phosphorites du Quercy’’). 
4. Vide Filhol, Ann. Sci. Géol. vol. vii. pls. xxi., xxii. 
