SIWALIK AND NARBADA CARNIVORA. 
171—348 
tinguishable from the corresponding bone of F. tigris. It is quite possible that this 
species may have existed in the pleistocene ; but it requires further evidence before 
this point can be determined. 
Phalangeals. — A proximal phalangeal bone of a feline as large as the tiger, from 
the Siwaliks of the Punjab, is represented in pi. XLIII., fig. 10. This specimen, 
with others in the Indian Museum, may have belonged either to F. cristata , or M. 
palceindicus. 
Other remains. — There are several specimens of the astragali of Siwalik felines 
in the British Museum, and a few other fragments of limb-bones in the Indian 
Museum; but nothing would be gained by their description, the specimens noticed 
above having fully confirmed the inferences drawn from the teeth and jaws as to the 
existence of an extensive feline Siwalik fauna ; and having proved the existence of 
at least one large-sized member of the group in the Narbada period. 
Family VI.: IIYrFNODONTID^J. 
Extent and affinities. — The present family is taken to include Hycenodon, Pterodon, 
Oxycena , and not improbably Cynliycenodon , with perhaps some other genera from the 
older American tertiaries. By Prof. Cope 1 Pterodon and Oxycena , constituting with 
Protop satis the family Oxycenidce , are, with other families, referred to a distinct 
order, under the name of Creodonta. On account of its alleged larger brain, 
Hycenodon is, however, referred by the same writer 2 to the Carnivora. By all other 
palaeontologists Hycenodon and Pterodon are considered as closely allied forms, 
probably belonging to the same family ; and this view is adopted here. It has 
been thought by some writers that these genera were allied to the marsupials, 
but the observations of Dr. Filhol 3 have shown this view to be erroneous. By 
Prof. Huxley 4 it is considered probable that they occupy a position connecting the 
Carnivora with the Insectivora; and on this view the family is provisionally 
included here in the former order. 5 One of the most distinctive points of the 
family is the small size of the brain, which in Cynliycenodon is more like that 
of an insectivore than a carnivore ; while another is the structure of the last three 
cheek-teeth, all of which assume a sectorial character. 
Genus : HYCENODON, Laizier and Pariere. 
Synonym, Taxotherium , Blain. 
Distribution , etc. — This genus has been hitherto recorded only from Europe and 
N. America; in the former area making its appearance in the upper eocene 
1 ‘ Pro. Amer. Phil. Soc.,’ 1880, p. 76 : 188l| p. 156. 
2 “ Rep. TJ. S. Geog. Surv. W. of 100th Meridian,” vol. IV., pt. II., p. 89. 
3 “ Phosphorites du Quercy,” p. 169. 
4 ‘Pro. Zool. Soc.,’ 1880, p. 284. 
5 It will he understood that although this family is placed next the Felidce, this does not imply any connection between 
the two. The affinities of the Hycenodontidce are more probably with the lowest viverro-canoids. The family and its allies 
not improbably renders it impossible to distinguish the Carnivora from the Insectivora. 
