323—146 INDIAN TERTIARY AND POST-TERTIARY VERTEBRATA. 
The skull of the lion 1 is in many respects nearer to the fossil ; although it agrees 
with that of the tiger in the relative proportions of the facial and cranial portions, 
and the longer interval between the canine and pm. 3 . In its larger pm. 4 the lion 
comes nearer to the fossil ; while in the form of its anterior zygomatic root, and 
antero-posterior widening of the outer extremity of the glenoid fossa it also agrees 
with the latter. The profile of the cranium makes, moreover, a somewhat nearer 
approach to that of the fossil ; although there is never the marked rise behind the 
post-orbitals, and the sagittal crest is less elevated. In the depression of the median 
nasal and frontal sutures the lion’s skull approaches the fossil ; although this character 
is exaggerated in the latter. In respect of the hinder part of the base of the skull 
the lion is about intermediate between the fossil and the tiger ; the eustachian 
opening, being placed nearly on the line of the post-glenoid process, and the whole 
bulla more approximated to the same than in the tiger. The cavity behind the post- 
glenoid process is also shorter and more vaulted, with the anterior wall less inclined 
than in the tiger, but more so than in the fossil. 2 The mastoid process is, however, 
much smaller than in the latter. The palate is only slightly longer than the post- 
palatal portion, and, therefore, nearer the fossil than in the tiger. 
The skull of the jaguar 3 in respect of the form of the cranial profile makes the 
nearest approach to the fossil, especially in old individuals. It is also the only one 
of the larger existing cats in which, as in the fossil, the facial is considerably shorter 
than the cranial portion. On the inferior aspect, moreover, the post-palatal portion 
is equal in length to the palatal. The relative position of the auditory bulla, and 
the form of the glenoid fossa, are also very similar in the two; but the cavity behind 
the post-glenoid process is more open, and less deep, with its anterior wall more 
inclined ; and the mastoid process is smaller. The skull of the jaguar is also 
distinguished, apart from its considerably smaller size, and relatively smaller pm. 4 , 
by the greater concavity of the frontals behind the post-orbital processes, and by the 
shorter and wider palate, and excessive width and outward curvature of the zygomas. 
The great depth of the anterior root of the latter is more pronounced than in the 
fossil ; and exceeds the vertical diameter of the orbit. 
Second cranium.— hi figure 1 of plate XL. there is represented (|-) the hinder 
portion of the cranium of a Siwalik Felis in the collection of the British Museum, 
agreeing in size, and in the strongly marked parietal ridges and sagittal crest, so 
closely with the last specimen that there appears every reason for regarding the two 
as specifically the same. The sagittal crest is, indeed, somewhat less prominent in 
the second specimen, but this variation may well be due to differences in age or sex. 
The specimen has lost the right occipital condyle, and both zygomatic arches, and is 
1 Compare De Blainville, op. cit., pi. V. 
2 There is some variation in these respects in different skulls : the skull of a small Asiatic specimen in the Museum of 
the College of Surgeons, and one of a cave lion from Belgium in the same collection (No. 352), coming nearer to the fossil 
than any other specimens which have come under the writer’s notice. 
3 ComparoDo Blainville, op. cil., pi. VIII. 
