lo THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



specimens of 48 others (including three complete mounted 

 skeletons), while only 15 species are not represented. 



FIQ. 9. UPPER AND LOWER TEETH OF TRICENTES 

 Represents the most primitive type of teeth of the Carnivora, with no specialized carnassials. Natural size 



OXVCL.^NID.^. 



Types: Chriaciis, Tricentes, Deliathcriitiii. Upper and lower jaws. 



Small primitive animals with unspecialized teeth resembling those 

 of lemurs. Only fragmentary specimens have been found, and but 

 little is known about them. They are the most ancient group of the 

 Creodonts and appear to have been nearest to the central stock from 

 which the other Creodonts and Carnivores are descended. They are 

 found only in the Basal Eocene. 



Arctocyonid>«;. 



Types : Arciocyon, skull (cast) ; Clccnodon, jaws and feet ; Anacodon, 

 jaws. 



Bear-like omnivorous Creodonts with sharp canine teeth and the 

 crowns of the molars flattened and wrinkled on the surface. The 

 animal walked on the entire sole of the foot, and had large sharp 

 claws like the modern bears. As in all these ancient mammals the 

 brain was very small, as can be seen in the skull of Arctocyon. 



Pal^onictid^. 



Palceonictis, front of skull and jaws. 



This rare and primitive group of Creodonts is thought by 

 some authors to be the remote ancestor of the Cat family. It 

 is found only in the Lower Eocene. 



