﻿FELIS SPELCEA. 69 



Premolar 2. (Pis. VI, VIII, XI, fig. 8). — We have seen one specimen of the larger, and 

 two of the smaller variety of Premolar 2 of Felts spelcea. The two former are in the 

 smaller skull of which we have given a figure, and the latter is in a fragment of a jaw 

 from Bleadon, which also retains a part of PM3. The partially divided alveolus in the 

 upper jaw, which we figure in PL XI, fig. 1, shows that the tooth had a tendency to become 

 fanged, as generally in the panther. But the examination of other specimens of Felis 

 spelcea, and of a large series of skulls of lion and tiger, shows that this tendency was not 

 constant in either of these animals. The tooth is frequently entirely wanting, particularly 

 in small specimens, in all three species. The crown consists of an obtuse central cone 

 {a), traversed by a median ridge, the posterior portion of which becomes worn in old age 

 (PI. VIII). The contour is from nearly circular to oval, the two-fanged specimens being 

 more oval than the monofanged. The fang in the smaller form is nearly straight, 

 cylindrical, and tapering. It is separated by a small diastema from the next tooth. 



Premolar 3. (Pis. VI, VIII, XI, figs. 1, 9, 10, 11).— The crown of this tooth consists 

 of a stout primary cone inclined slightly backwards and inwards {a), with a secondary 

 cusp (5) on the antero-internal aspect, and the secondary and accessory cusps behind 

 (c), (e) ; each of these is divided from its fellow by a cleft, and is traversed by a sharp 

 ridge that passes over the principal cone and gives the whole tooth a trenchant character. 

 This ridge turns inwards as it passes from the apex of the tooth to the anterior cusp (b) , 

 by which character the upper tooth is distinguished from premolar 4 in the lower jaw. 

 Occasionally, a minute tubercle (d) appears on the anterior surface of (b). The inner 

 surface supported by the posterior fang is slightly flattened. The fangs are two, 

 divaricate and subcylindrical ; the cingulum is very stout. The tooth varies much in 

 size in different individuals, and sometimes, as in fig. 11, the secondary cusp (b) all but 

 disappears. A strong bulge of the cingulum on the internal base of (a) occurs in many 

 teeth of F. spelcea (fig.l), from which, ascends a strong buttress to the summit (a). This 

 appears to be an indication of the tubercle (/) which assumes much larger proportions 

 in PM4 . The extreme variations of size are shown in our plate ; the smallest belongs 

 to the same jaw as the smallest canine which we have figured. The only tooth that by 

 any chance could be confounded with this is that of Hycena spelcea. In the latter, how- 

 ever, the principal cone is higher, more decidely conical, and stouter ; the posterior cusp 

 is wanting ; the cingulum is far more developed, and the sectorial character is exchanged 

 for a bluntly pointed form, adapted for crushing rather than for cutting and tearing. 



Premolar 4. (Pis. VI, VIII, XI, figs. 1, 12, 13). — This tooth maybe described generally 

 as consisting of two portions, the first, the tubercular set internally at right angles to the 

 second, the two blades which compose the sectorial or trenchant portion of the tooth. The 

 tubercular consists of a stout conical " secondary" cusp {b), occupying the antero-external 

 angle of the tooth, and separated by a cleft from the anterior blade, and the tubercle (/) 

 supported by the small inner subcylindrical fang, and which, though always present, is 

 sometimes reduced to a minimum. This small and uncertain development contrasts 



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