SPECIAL WORK.' 
Mamm. 27 
Ampfiicyon, Dinictis , and Archcelurus. Also observes that the characters 
of the tympanic ring afford specific characters in the Felidce, and ate of 
importance in other groups. 
Cope, E. D. The Mechanical Origin of the Teeth of the Carnivora. 
P. Am. Ass. 1887, pp. 254-257 (1888). 
Considers that the most primitive type of tooth was a simple cone ; 
next there arose fore-and-aft cusps, as in Triconodon ; and it is argued that 
the effect of pressure would be to thrust these cusps in the upper jaw to 
the outer side, and in the lower jaw to the inner side of the main cusp ? 
from which a trituberculate tooth would result. The origin of the 
sectorial teeth of the Carnivora Vera from a tritubercular tooth of this 
type is then traced, and considered to be due to the pressure of one tooth 
against the other, the location being due to the position of the masseter 
muscle. The tubercular teeth of the Dogs and Bears are regarded as of 
less specialized type than the sectorials. 
Placzek, B. Wiesel und Katze, ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Haus- 
thioro. Vorh. Vor. Briinn. xxvi, pp. 124-191. 
An elaborate memoir, divided into two sections. The first is devoted 
to the history of Cats and Weasels among the ancients ; the second to 
that of the present day. 
Schlosser, M. Die Affen, Lemuren, Chiropteren, Insectivoren, Mar- 
supialier, Creodonten, und Carnivoren der Europaischen Tertiars. 
Pt. ii. Beitr. Pal. Oesterr.-Ung. vii, pp. [1-162], 225-386, pis. vi-ix. 
This important memoir is the continuation of the one noticed in Zool. 
Rec. xxiv, Mamm. p. 14, and is devoted to parts of the European Tertiary 
Carnivora , with their relations to existing forms and to those from the 
American Tertiaries. It is proposed to classify the Carnivora Vera as 
follows : — 
A. Hypomycteri. 
1. Cercoleptidce. 4. JEluridai. 
2. Procyonidce. 5. Ursidce (Amphicyonidai, p. 61). 
3. Mustelidce. 6, Canidai, 
7. Protelidce . 
8. Arctictidce. 
9. Viverridce. 
10. Cynictidai. 
B. Epimycteri. 
11. Suricatidce. 
12. Cryptoproctida). 
13. Nimravidce. 
14. Felidce. 
15. Hycenidce. 
Of these families, Nos. 3, 5, and 8 are treated of in this part. The 
memoir commences with a discussion of previous classifications and the 
proposed amendments thereon, after which the families are systematic^, 
ally doscribod. A number of now generic and speciflo names are pro? 
posed, the forms included by Filhol in Cynodictis being broken up info 
several genera, and the Mustelidce also much divided, Stenoplesictis and 
Palceoprionodon, which have been previously referred to the Viverridce , 
are placed in the Mustelidce. Ceplialogale is taken to include several of 
