SIWALIK AND NARBADA CARNIVORA. 
9—186 
portions of the specimen represented in fig. 7, and there is accordingly every 
probability that they belong to the same species. Taking the two specimens 
together, they afford an idea of the form of the nearly complete mandible, and 
indicate that the number of the lower cheek-teeth of the species to which they 
belonged was Pm. 7. M. 7. 
The relative stoutness of the fossil jaws, the straightness of their inferior 
border, and the simple suh-conical form and absence of accessory talons from pm. 4, 
leaves little doubt that the specimens belong to the above-mentioned group of the 
Mustelines. This is confirmed by the relatively large size of the canine, of which, 
as in the allied living genera, the antero-posterior diameter of the base considerably 
exceeds the length of pm. 4 ; whereas in the typical weasels, the dogs (generally 
distinguished by the presence of pm. l), and the Viverridce (with the exception of 
Arctictis\ which are the only other families to which the fossil could belong, the 
antero-posterior diameter of the base of the canine appears to be always shorter than 
the length of pm. 4. The specimens under consideration may, therefore, be taken as 
belonging to the above-mentioned group of Mustelines. The form of the hinder talon 
of the carnassial, which is fortunately preserved in the specimen represented in figure 
8, shows that the summit of that part was bluntly trenchant; whence the animal 
was evidently closely allied to the glutton and the ratel. From the latter the fossil is 
distinguished by the presence of m. 2 ; by the equality in the size of pm. 4 and pm. 3, 
and by the minuteness of pm. 2 . From the lower jaw of Gulo the fossil is distinguished 
by the absence of pm. 1, by the minute size of pm. 2, and by the thinner form of the 
carnassial. As these two genera appear to be the only large-sized representatives of 
the group with a trenchant hind talon to the carnassial, it seems practically certain 
that the specimens under consideration must be referred to a new genus. From the 
resemblance in the general form of the teeth to those of Mellivora the generic title 
of Mellivorodon is proposed, to which may be appended the specific name palceindicus. 
In the following table the measurements of the two specimens under consideration 
are compared with the corresponding dimensions of the mandible of Mellivora indica , 
and Gulo luscus : — 
Gulo. Mellivorodon. Mellivora indica. 
Length of carnassial O' 95 
,, ,, pm. 4 0-46 
„ „ „ 3 0-36 
„ 2 0-3 
Ant. post. diam. of canine 0-55 
Interval between carnassial and canine . . . 1-08 
Depth of jaw at m. 1 . . . . . 1-16 
fig. 7. fig. 8. 
(?) 0-73 .. 0-9 .. .. 0-59 
0-4 0-36 
0-39 0-29 
0-15 0-21 
0- 5 0-39 
1- 03 0-9 
0-88 .. 1-0 .. .. 0-68 
These measurements indicate that Mellivorodon was intermediate in size between the 
ratel and the glutton ; while the form and relative proportions of its teeth indicate 
that it was more nearly allied to the former than to the latter. 
c 
