183—6 INDIAN TERTIARY AND POST-TERTIARY VERTEBRATA. 
These dimensions show that in the fossil pm. 3 and pm. 4 are more nearly equal in 
size than in the recent species ; pm. a being relatively smaller in the recent species, 
while pm. 4 is as large, or larger, than in the fossil. This difference causes pm. 3 to 
overlap pm. 2 in the latter, while in the recent species the one tooth is entirely 
behind the other. The lower carnassial (m. l) is relatively larger in the recent form ; 
and accordingly this tooth overlaps pm. 4, which is not the case with the fossil. 
There is also a more distinct ( diastema ’ in the latter. 
Precisely similar conditions are observable in the mandibular dentition of 
Mellivora cayensis, 1 except that sometimes pm. 3 is overlapped by pm. 4 ; the great 
difference in size of these teeth is, however, most marked. 
Conclusions. — The foregoing observations leave not the slightest doubt but that 
this species of Siwalik ratel is specifically distinct from the living Indian species ; 
and as no important points of distinction have been recorded between the skulls and 
dentition of the latter and the living African form, which, as already mentioned, is 
regarded by Dr. Sclater as not improbably the same as the Indian, it follows that 
the fossil must also differ from the former, 2 and may, therefore, be entitled to 
rank as a distinct species, for which the name Mellivora sivalensis may advantageously 
be retained. It is uncertain whether this or the next species should probably be 
regarded as the direct ancestor of the living forms, but it is not impossible, from the 
greater difference in the size of pm. 3 and pm. 4 that the second species should occupy 
this position. In any case it is highly probable that India should be regarded as the 
original home of the genus. 
Distribution. — The three specimens described above are the only known remains 
of this species, and were all obtained from the neighbourhood of the Ganges valley. 
It would be unsafe to make any very definite conclusions from the occurrence of 
these three specimens, but as another species of the genus inhabited the Punjab in 
Siwalik times, it is possible that the range of the present species may have been 
confined to the eastern side of India. 
Species 2 : Mellivora punjabiensis, n. sp.| nobis. 
History. — As already mentioned, a lower jaw of a Siwalik ratel from the Punjab 
was briefly noticed by the present writer some years ago in the “ Records,” and 
referred to M. sivalensis., A comparison of this specimen with the Dublin mandible 
of the latter has, however, shown conclusively that the former belongs to a distinct 
species, and it is on that specimen that the present species is founded. 
Mandible. — The above-mentioned specimen is represented in figures 6 and 6a of 
plate XXVII. of the present memoir : 3 it consists of the anterior part of the right 
1 Owen, “ Odontography,” pi. CXXVIII., fig-. 10. 
2 Owing to there being no skull of that species in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, and to the British 
Museum osteological collection being at present inaccessible, the author has had no opportunity of comparing the fossils with 
M. capemis. 
3 The author only knew of the existence of the Dublin mandible after this plate was lithographed : otherwise the two 
specimens would have been figured side by side. 
