Sovewrm: berrve nt coger oo BUTE Taro S bag ve ; Mi wd ha ie ian ut ie iu t ’ , Bie Art Mi Gy We nN Vat $400 ih Teal ; eos Vt ay 7 Ns OF ASIATIC RESEARCHES; OR, NINETEENTH VOLUME | Transactions of the Socicty, INSTITUTED IN BENGAL, FOR ENQUIRING INTO THE HISTORY, THE ANTIQUITIES, THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND LITERATURE OF ASIA. CALCUTTA: PRINTED AT THE BENGAL MILITARY ORPHAN PRESS, BY G. H. HUTTMANN, —$—_— 1836. CD er XIX |, pE.l. ISG ee Jorn. OX. (836 , 674 he 629 ~ — ject iheox h-9 6 | Page CONTENTS ERRATA. 8, line 5 from the bottom dele “ on.” 5 from ditto, for ‘‘ or” read ‘‘ in.” 11, 12, in the last dimension, for ‘* Palatial’’ read ‘‘ Palatine.” 15, line 14, for ‘“‘ molars” read ‘ molar.” 21, 21, 22, 145, line 14, 1, ‘619.2 inches” read ‘¢ 12.2 inches.” “circle” read “ arch.” ‘‘form” read ‘ forms.” ¢ decend lower’’ read ‘* descend lower in.”’ ‘“¢ He Sivalensis” read *‘ H, Sivalensis.” 66 2° to 30°” read *‘ 20° to 30°.” “margin of foramen” read ‘* margin of the posterior nasal foramen.” & nyal” read “ frontal” “uniform” read ‘ reniform.” “but” read ‘ not.” “upper” read “ lower.” ‘“¢ Nufimenta” read ‘“* Rufimenta.”’ 146, note, from “ Erythrocephala” read ‘ Erythroryncha.’”’ 6, for 5” read ‘54.” 157, for ‘* Alaudino” read ‘‘ Alaudine.” 146, line 158, “ Fringalanda” read “ Fringalauda.”’ 168, line 11, for ‘ Corch”’ read ‘* Concha.” 6 from bottom, for “Couch”? read ‘* Concha.” 4 from bottom, for ‘‘ outer four’? read ‘ inner fore.’”’ 6 from bottom, for ‘‘ dares” read ‘‘ nares.” 184, lines 10—11, words former and latter transposed. 169, 173, 180, 186, for ‘ subgenus” read ‘‘ genus.” 5 from bottom, after above put and. 2 from bottom, after well put with. 190, line 192, Lupe: ea iy naan CONTENTS OF THE FIRST PART OF THE 19th VOLUME. I. Page Sivatherium Giganteum, a New Fossil Ruminant Genus from the Valley of the Markanda, in the Sivalik Branch of the Sub-Himalayan Mountains. By Hugh Falconer, M. D., Superintendent Botanical Garden, Saharanpur, and Captain P. T. Cautley, Superintendent, IDoabiCanalnaccea Oc see ees ees II. Note on the Fossil Crocodile, of the Sivalik Hills. By Captain P. T. Cautley, Superintendent, Doab Camnalira = toc Rabe gat oy aa Ta aac pal sera ceeces ce cece seca rs ee 1.55 2.24 Second do. do. eiateracete, oredeie cepa say's see paseee nce pibicravalalinieawie 1.70 1.95 First do. do. eusietar a cue cle oictallajaele slclsciele siclec e(ers. sje s'G vele 1.70 1.90 Outer Inner Surfaces. Surfaces. Interval between the surfaces of last molar,,...2.20 00 ei gSleiiereletaiaie 9.9 5.5 Do. do. do. thirdamolary <.cpcsrs o ccarenrehin's orer 9.8 5.5 Do. do. do. SECONGIG,' acu. pace wcclea wegieis - 8.4 4.5 Do. do. do. First 3 Mons ics we gta e ale oiers eisrerne ois 6.4 3.2 Space occupied by the line of molars 9.8 inches. Bones of the Head and Face.—From the age of the animal to which the head had belonged, the bones had become anchylosed at their commis- sures, so that every trace of suture has disappeared, and their limits and connections are not distinguishable. The frontal is broad and flat, and slightly concave at its upper half. It expands laterally into two considerable swellings at the vertex, and sweeps down to join the temporals in an ample curve; and with no angu- larity. It becomes narrower forwards, to behind the orbits; and then expands again in sending off an apophysis to join with the malar bone, and complete the posterior circuit of the orbit. The width of the bone where narrowest, behind the orbit, is very great, being 16.2 inches. Partly between and partly to the rear of the orbits, there arise by a broad base passing insensibly into the frontal two short thick conical processes. They taper rapidly to a point, a little way below which they are mutilated in A NEW FOSSIL RUMINANT GENUS. 7 the fossil. They start so erect from the brow that their axis is perpen- dicular to their basement: and they diverge at a considerable angle. From their base upwards they are free from any rugosities, their surface being smooth and even. They are evidently the osseous cores of two intra- orbital horns. From their position and size they form one of the most remarkable features in the head. The connections of the frontal are no- where distinguishable, no mark of a suture remaining. At the upper end of the bone the skull is fractured and the structure of the bone is exposed. The internal and outer plates are seen to be widely separated, and the interval to be occupied by large cells, formed by an expansion of the diploe into plates as in the Elephant. The interval exceeds 24 inches in the occipital. On the left side of the frontal, the swelling at the vertex, has its upper lamina of bone removed, and the cast of the cells exhibits a surface of almond-shaped or oblong eminences with smooth hollows between. The temporal is greatly concealed by a quantity of the stony matrix, which has not been removed from the temporal fossa. No trace of the squamous suture remains to mark its limits and connection with the fron- tal. The inferior processes of the bone about the auditory foramen have been destroyed or are concealed by stone. The zygomatic process is long and runs forward to join the corresponding apophysis of the jugal bone, with little prominence or convexity. A line produced along it would pass in front, through the tuberosities of the maxillaries, and to the rear along the upper margin of the occipital condyles. The process is stout and thick. The temporal fossa is very long and rather shallow. It does not rise up high on the side of the cranium; it is overarched by the cylinder- like sides of the frontal bone. The position and form of the articulating surface with the lower jaw are concealed by stone which has not been removed. There is nothing in the fossil to enable us to determine the form and limits of the parietal bones: the cranium being chiefly mutilated in the region which they occupy. But they appear to have had the 8 DESCRIPTION OF THE SIVATHERIUM, same form and character as in the ox: to have been intimately united with the occipitals, and to have jomed with the frontal at the upper angle of the skull. The form and characters of the occipital are very marked. It occu- pies a large space, having width proportioned to that of the frontal, and considerable height. It is expanded laterally into two ale, which com- mence at the upper margin of the foramen magnum and proceed upwards and outwards. These ale are smooth, and are hollowed out downwards and outwards from near the condyles towards the mastoid region of the tem- poral. Their inner or axine margins proceed ina ridge arising from the border of the occipital foramen, diverging from each other nearly at right angles, and enclose a large triangular fossa into which they descend abruptly. This fossa, is chiefly occupied by stone in the fossil, but it does not appear shallow, and seems a modification of the same structure as in the Elephant. There is no appearance of an occipital crest or protube- rance. The bone is mutilated at the sides towards the junction with the temporals. Both here and at its upper fractured margin its structure is seen to be formed of large cells with the diploe expanded into plates, and the outer and inner lamine wide apart. This character is very marked at its upper margin, where its cells appear to join on with those of the frontal. The condyles are very large and fortunately very perfect in the fossil, the longest diameter of each is 4.4 inches, and the distance measured, across the foramen magnum, from their outer angles, is 7.4 inches : dimen- sions exceeding those of the Elephant. Their form is exactly as in the Ruminantia, viz. their outer surface composed of two convexities meeting at a rounded angle: one in the line of the long axis stretching obliquely backwards from the anterior border of the foramen magnum; on the other forwards and upwards from the posterior margin, their line of commissure being in the direction of the transverse diameter of the foramen. The lat- ter is also of large size, its antero-posterior diameter being 2.3 inches, and the transverse diameter 2.6 inches. The large dimensions of the foramen A NEW FOSSIL RUMINANT GENUS. 9 and condyles must entail a corresponding developement in the vertebre, and modify the form of the neck and anterior extremities. The sphenoidal bone, and all the parts along the base of the skull from the occipital foramen to the palate are either removed or so concealed by stone as to give no characters for description. The part of the brow from which the nasal bones commence is not distinguishable. The suture connecting them with the frontal is com- pletely obliterated : and it is not seen whether they run up into a sinus in that bone, or how they join on with it. Between the horns there is a rise in the brow, which sinks again a little forward. A short way in advance of a line connecting the anterior angles of the orbits, there is another rise in the brow. From this point, which may be considered their base, the nasal bones commence ascending from the plane of the brow, at a considerable angle. They are broad and well arched at their base, and proceed forward with a convex outline, getting rapidly narrower, to terminate in a point curved downwards, which overhangs the external nostrils. For a considerable part of their length they are joined to the maxillaries : but forwards from the point where they commence narrow- ing, their lower edge is free and separated from the maxillaries by a wide sinus : so that viewed in lateral profile their form very much resembles the upper mandible of a hawk, detached from the lower. Unluckily in the fossil, the anterior margins of the maxillaries are mutilated, so that the exact length of the nasal bone that was free from connection with them cannot be determined. ‘As the fossil stands, about four inches of the lower edge of the nasals, measured along the curve, are free. The same mutila- tion prevents its being seen how near the incisives approached the nasals, with which they do not appear to have been joined. This point is one of great importance, from the structure it implies in the soft parts about the. nose. The height and form of the nasal bones, are the most remarkable feature in the head: viewed from above they are seen to taper rapidly from Cc 10 DESCRIPTION OF THE SIVATHERIUM, a broad base to a sharp point ; and the vertical height of their most con- vex part above the brow at their base, is 33 inches. The form of the maxillaries is strongly marked in two respects : 1st, their shortness compared with their great width and depth: 2d, in the upward direction of the line of alveoli from the last molar forwards, giving the appearance (with the licence of language intended to convey an idea of resemblance without implying more) as if the face had been pushed upwards to correspond with the rise in the nasals ; or fixed on at an angle with the base of the cranium. The tendency to shortness of the jaw was observed in the dimensions of the teeth, the molars being compressed, and their width exceeding their length to an extent not usual in the Ruminan- tia. The width apart, between the maxillaries, was noticed before; the interval, between the outer surfaces of the alveoli, equalling the space in length occupied by the line of molars. The cheek tuberosities are very large and prominent, their diameter at the base being 2 inches and the width of the jaw over them being 12.2 inches, whereas at the alveoli it is but 9.8 inches. They are situated over the third and fourth molars ; and: proceeding up from them towards the malar, there is an indistinct ridge on the bone. The infra-orbitary foramen is of large size, its vertical diameter being 1.2 inch ; it is placed over the first molar as in the ox and deer tribe. The muzzle portion of the bone is broken off at about 2.8 inches from the ist molar, from the alveolar margin of which, to the surface of the diastema, there is an abrupt sink of 1.7 inch. The muzzle is here contracted to 5.8 inches, and forwards at the truncated part to about 4.1. The palatine arch is convex from rear to front, and concave across. No trace of the palatine foramina remains, nor of the suture with the proper palatine bones. The spheeno-palatine apophyses and all back to the foramen magnum” are * With the exception of a portion of the basilary region, which resembles that of the Ruminants, A NEW FOSSIL RUMINANT GENUS. 11 either removed or concealed in stone. In front, the mutilation of the bone, at the muzzle, does not allow it to be seen, how the incisive bones were connected with the maxillaries: but it appears that they did not reach so high on the maxillaries as the union of the latter with the nasals. The same cause has rendered obscure the connections of the maxillaries with the nasals, and the depth and size of the nasal echancrure or sinus. The jugal bone is deep, massive and rather prominent. Its lower border falls off abruptly in a hollow descending on the maxillaries: the upper enters largely into the formation of the orbit. The posterior orbital process unites with a corresponding apophysis of the frontal to complete the circuit of the orbit behind. The zygomatic apophysis is stout and thick, and rather flat. No part of the arch, either in the temporal or jugal portions is prominent : the interval between the most salient points being greatly less than the hind part of the cranium, and slightly less than the width between the bodies of the jugals. The extent and form of the lachrymals, cannot be made out, as there is no trace of a suture remaining. Upon the fossil, the surface of the la- chrymary region passes-smoothly into that of the adjoining bones. There is no perforation of the lower and anterior margin of the orbit by lachrymary foramina, nor any hollow below it indicating an infra-orbital or lachrymary sinus. It may be also added, what was omitted before, that there is no trace of a superciliary foramen upon the frontal. The orbits are placed far forwards, in consequence of the great pro- duction of the cranium upwards,-and the shortness of the bones of the face. Their position is also rather low, their centre being about 3.6 inches below the plane of the brow. From a little injury done in chisseling off the stone, the form or circle of the different orbits does not exactly correspond. In the one of the left side, which is the more perfect, the long axis makes a small angle with that of the plane of the brow: the antero-posterior dia- meter is 3.3 inches, and the vertical 2.7 inches. There is no prominence or inequality in the rim of the orbits, as in the Ruminantia. The plane 12 DESCRIPTION OF THE SIVATHERIUM, of the rim is very oblique: the interval between the upper or frontal mar- gins of the two orbits being 12.2 inches, and that of the lower or molar margin 16.2 inches. *DIMENSIONS OF THE SKULL OF THE SIVATHERIUM GIGANTEUM. Eng. Inches. Metres. From the anterior margin of the foramen magnum to the alveolus of Ist molar,«. 18.85 From do. to the truncated extremity of the muzzle, ..ccceceessenccsee aeveee 20.6 From do. to the posterior margin of the last molar, .seecs ee cece ve esece cess, LOve From the tip of the nasals to the upper fractured margin of the cranium, ...... 18.0 From do. do. to do. along the curve, ........ miagiejar sisisparsselexas tithe. aisiou OO From do. do. along the curve, to where the nasal arch begins to rise from the PLOW) accbas socesesecees vobced cece ceeces meestseebetueceesiessedoce 40 From the latter point to the fractured margin of the cranium, ........-....-65 11.2 From the tip of the nasals to a chord across the tips of the Notns,: ve detucos-oeee.: (Sub From the anterior angle, right orbit, to the first molar, ...... ceccee covccecess 9.9 From the posterior do. do. to the fractured margin of the cranium, ........ 12.1 Width of cranium at the vertex (mutilation at left side restored), about ....++.. 22.0 Do: between the orbits, upper borders, oo veces ssc etecscses secccacciscersee 12:2 Do. lisiceeweace. Gos lower borders, veere%sss. Pon see ous Oe ee eG SD Do. behind the orbits at the contraction of the frontal, .....cceoccecceesccese 14.6 Do. between the middle of the zygomatic arches, ...¢.ceescorccccccescvecse 16.4 Do. between the bodies of the malar bones, ...0 cece ccccccce veccscsesesees 16.62 Do. base of the skull behind the mastoid processes (mutilated on both sides,) e. 19.5 Do. between the cheek tuberosities of the maxillaries, ...ccccces vecces coccce 12.2 Do. of muzzle portion of the maxillaries in front of the first molar,...... esse 5.8 Do.-of.do. where truncated, (partly restored), <.ssicie. 6iceievwiaiie's s:atete'ccoio\sidieig ale ier 4a Do. between the outer surfaces of the horns at their base,.....sceccccccsceecs 12.5 Do. dO. 75 7.) 00, iractured tips Of GIttO, cic. ceseiaiec sie esis sleciainleea ot co 13:60 Perpendicular from a chord across tips of do. to the brow, cseccececcccevacee 4.2 Depth from the convexity of the occipital condyles to middle of frontal behind the INOTNS; We eietoleloncratotere ls \aloveiclaignateieveroleleverteteretelele elelels anelelelsivierctecciertieleisiererevenl ICO Do. from the body of the sphoenoidal to do. between the horns, ...e+e...2..-2 9.94 Do. from middle of the palate between the 3d and 4th molars do. at root of the MASA Sercterevelataletolaveheleievovsterchararehele elcievorcloterer evel ploveieicier misletoncrsiats oe vereveiciviod te sieies waco Do. from posterior surface last molar to extremity of the nasals, ...2...eseeee 13,0 Do. from grinding surface penultimate molar to root of the nasals, ....00..+-.+ 10.3 Do. from the convexity near the tip of the nasals to the palatial surface in front of the first molar,: ... cece cccccccccccccc cesses seers ssteces esos seceae ) OOo 478 2263 -262 -4568 4822 198 -284 -216 251 3075 059 3095 4108 3705 A168 422 496 3095 -149 104 312 347 165 * To facilitate comparison with the large animals described in Cuvigr’s Ossemens Fossiles, the dimensions are also given in French measure. A NEW FOSSIL RUMINANT GENUS. 13 Eng. Inches. Metres. Depth from middle of the ala of the occipital to the swell at vertex of frontal, .. 8.98 .228 Do. from inferior margin of the orbit to grinding surface 5th molar, ....seee00 7.3 .186 Do. from the grinding surface Ist molar to edge of the palate in front of it, .... 2.6 .066 Space from the anterior angle of orbit to tip of the nasals, ...seeesseessccese 10.2 2595 Antero-posterior diameter left orbit,.... eecececeeccccsnqae vescesccsccssees 3.3 O84 Vertical ; do. ORY Tonieieretcleloveterstedslelescfeln’ ace els .eis\'s /s's\e's elle Seeciasa 2 O6GD Antero-posterior diameter of the foramen magnUM, .oecerecere sevceessreress 2.3 .058 Transverse do. Ona eeaisisiel ajo raiel olepelaleiaiereesiejelajelinieialsitnrein's oisieleit 2:6.¥. OGG, Long diameter of each condyle, ;.......- Ba E OLA lo Meg eure tie alee ecere cle ciee weve) 4:4 V1 119 Short or transverse do. of do. ...2..-+. sAETAGED wSioe eon c cd leldeldecieisWerbiedtaldesle 249} 20603 Interval between the external angles of do. measured across the foramen, cecooe V4 .188 Among a quantity of bones collected in the neighbourhood of the spot in which the skull was found, there is a fragment of the lower jaw of a very large ruminant which we have no doubt belonged to the Sivatherium : and it is even not improbable that it came from the same individual with the head described. It consists of the hind portion of the right jaw broken off at the anterior third of the last molar. The coronoid apophysis, the condyle, with the corresponding part of the ramus, and a portion of the angle are also removed. The two posterior thirds only, of the last molar, remain ; the grinding surface partly mutilated, but sufficiently distinct to show the crescentic plates of enamel, and prove that the tooth belonged to aruminant. The outline of the jaw in vertical section, is a compressed. ellipse, and the outer surface more convex than the inner. The bone thins off, on the inner side towards the angle of the jaw, into a large and well marked muscular hollow : and running up from the latter, upon the ramus towards the foramen of the artery there is a well defined furrow, as in the Ruminantia. The surface of the tooth is covered with very small rugosities, and striz, asin the upper molars of the head. It had been composed of three semi-cylinders, as is normal in the family, and the advanced state of its wearing proves the animal from which it proceeded to have been more than adult. 14 DESCRIPTION OF THE SIVATHERIUM, The form and relative proportions of the jaw agree very closely with those of the corresponding parts of a buffalo. The dimensions compared with those of the buffalo and camel are thus : Sivatherium. Buffalo. Camel. Depth of the jaw from the alveolus last molar, ,...0.. 4.95 inch. 2.65 inch. 2.70 inch. Greatest. thickness Of dos << eTete oe Grn vorelateve Slave slgtolele terete ttety totes 0.95 0.024 | 3.5 | 0.089 Large as the fossil may appear, the animal to which it belonged did not in all probability exceed 25 feet in length—whereas the Gangetic Crocodile of the present day is said to arrive at the enormous length of 30 feet, and in the pages of the Calcutta Journal, an animal ‘of 28 feet long is recorded as having been killed by a gentleman of the Civil Service, (I believe) now residing in Calcutta. THE FOSSIL GHARIAL OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. Amonest the numerous remains of the Crocodilidean Saurians which have been found in such abundance from the oolite up to the more recent strata, it would appear that the greatest proportion has been allied to the Gharial,* and that the existing Crocodile and Cayman have been almost without * The French mode of writing this word, Gavidl, appears to have originated in a misread- ing of the manuscript of some naturalist ; the 7 and v being nearly similar in form. As Ghariél is the correct native name, there seems no reason for perpetuating the misnomer.— SEC. OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 33 their prototypes. It is only in the strata above the chalk* at Montmartre, and the fresh water formation at Argenton where remains have been found, which were considered by Cuvier as appertaining to the latter subgenera ; in these strata however the remains of animals of this description are scarce, and in those still more superficial abounding in the remains of the larger mammalia, in Mastodons, Hippopotami, &c., where we might naturally expect to find the Crocodile, the remains of this family have hardly I believe been found. at all. Of the fossil Crocodile brought by Crawrorp and Watuicu from Ava, and figured in the London Geological Society’s Transactions, the drawings shew a much nearer approach to the living congenera, than had, up to the period of that discovery, been found ; and although we are unacquainted with the geology of the country from which they were brought, the new varieties of the Mastodons, which appear to be common both to the Sivaliks and the Irrawaddi deposits, may establish an identity between the two formations. In the Sivaliks we: have upheaved alluvium; or debris from the great Himalayas upheaved at a considerable angle; at those points especially be- tween the Jumna and Ganges rivers where the shingle and sand are the most developed, their appearance is similar to what we might imagine the beds of the present rivers to exhibit, were they to undergo a similar convulsion. The presence of the fossils has not been satisfactorily determined on the line between the Jumna and Ganges ; those that have been already collected in such great abundance are from the prolongation of the same line between the Sutlej and the Jumna rivers. Up to the present time they have gene- rally been collected from the slopes of the mountains, slips, water courses, &c. They have been dug out near the village of Deoni in the Nahan Raja’s territory, but at this spot the position of the stratum from which they were excavated, was not satisfactorily determined. In the Ambwalla Pass — * In the London clay the remains of either the true Crocodile or Cayman with the con- cavo-convex vertebra are said to have been found, the species allied to C. d@ museau aigu, vide Parkinson Int. Org. Rem. p. 387, and also the head of an Alligator in the London clay of the Isle of Sheppey, found in 1832. 34 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL GHARIAL however we had the satisfaction of finding a large fragment of bone in situ, in a stratum of sand stone rock, in the face of a cliff, terminating one of those tortuous little streams that drain the steep slopes of the mountains into the main channel. The sand stone stratum in which this was found was inclined as usual in an angle of from 2° to 30°—and the position of the fossil was perhaps 600 feet from the bed of the main river. In the present state of the enquiry this fact is interesting, for it appears that in the many slips that have been visited and most carefully examined, no fossils have been found actually in the rock, with the exception of the instances above mentioned. The fossils are evidently not confined to the sand-stone ; the clays and clayey conglomerates have their proportion also. Of the Crocodile of these strata I have attempted in the preceding section to shew as far as measurements and my limited means point out, - that the main difference between the fossil and the existing animal of the present rivers is in the breadth; a difference that might tend to an opinion of its being allied to the Cayman, did not other more distinct characters separate it at once from that subgenus. In the Gharidl now under review Tam unable to recognize any difference from the living animal; and there are certain peculiarities about the external surface of the skull of the exist- ing Gharidl, in slight indentations and rugosities, which are singularly coincident with the fossil. The following measurements are taken from two recent skulls, one of an animal 10 feet 5 inches long, and the other 8 feet 8 inches long :—the measurements of the fossil, froma very perfect skull with the beak broken off, which is evidently the remain of a large animal. Existing Gharidl. Fossil Upper Jaw. ; ey Gharidl. Number of Teeth, 56. 10 Feet 5 dnches fon 8 Feet 8 Inches long. Inches. | Métres. | Inches. | Métres. |Inches.| Métres. eee COC Me CAC an cet ceen ee | e Extreme length from point of muz- zie to outer margin of occipital COND VLEs | 1 ioc ieisisicis e cise o sissies « 22.7 0.577 19.5 0.495 Breadth on the temporal bones at the articulation with lower jaw,.- 8.2 0.21 6.5 0.166 Ditto on the 28th tooth,..... cis coche Yen | 0.108 3.4 0.086 | 9.3 | 0.236 Ditto on the 20th tooth,.s.seeeeee | 1.95 0.049 | 1.5 0.038 | eS COS Oe ee ee ee OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 35 Existing Gharial. EELS Niale BEES BIS Te ICT Ones OP OUNCE TEE TR Un rans yew Fossil Upper Jaw. 10 Feet 5 Inches long.| 8 Feet 8 Inches long. Gharidl. Number of Teeth, 56. Inches. Métres. | Inches. | Métres. |Inches.| Métres. Length of intermaxillary on suture | (DSO) Feeds coudar auolepercietotens 5a 0.129 4.4 0.111 Ditto maxillaries ditto, ...... 000. 8.8 0.223 7 9 0.200 Ditto palatine bone ditto, ........ 4.8 0.121 3.8 0.096 Ditto sphenoid do. to anterior mar- gin of. foramen, sevssecseseese 1.65 0.042 1.4 0.035 3.% | 0.081 Extreme breadth on pterygoid apo- physis of sphenoid, ..-..ee5---- 5.3 0.133 4,15 0.106 Length from tip of muzzle to ante- MR Or Gr ole Sa soaneq cece aes 16.4 0.416 16.4 0.366 Ditto do. do. of lachrymal hone f 14.4 0.366 12,9 0.309 Breadth of frontal between orbits at the junction with the anterior HOMME E GMa Ie stale c iejatelel evel tieveisiteleie! « 9.4. 0.060 1.95 0.049 4.9 | 0.124 Ditto of parietal bones between cro- taphite foramina, .....+ .-xee0. 0.55 0.014 0.65 0.016 1.0 | 0.026 Length of external nostril, ...... 11 0.027 0.85 0.021 rea dithmotnditto;ss jhe eee sere ielerets 2 0.9 0.022 0.60 0.015 Length of crotaphite foramina, or those in rear of orbits, ».++see. 2.0 0.051 1.4 0.035 3.3 | 0.083 Breadth of ditto ditto, .......+0 2.15 0.055 1.6 0.040 3.8 | 0.096 Ditto of occipital condyle,........ 1.2 0.030 0.95 0.024 2.5 | 0.064 Length of occipital foramen, ...... 0.9 0.022 : 5 1.4 | 0.035 Depth of ditto ditto, .cecesseseee 0.65 0.016 0.45 0.012 0.9 | 9.022 Length of palatal sinus, .......-e-6 2.65 0.068 2.35 0.059 4.9 |0.124 Breadth of ditto, ...... eibirehsifai hsv ajoss 0.035 1.10 0.046 2.4 | 0.060 Length from point of muzzle to an- | terior extreme of palatine sinus, 0.418 14.2 0.361 Length of upper table of cranium between the anterior margin of the orbits and the posterior mas- toid apophysis, .....+ecceeses 5.8 Breadth of ditto ditto ditto, ...... 6.0 0.147 4.7 0.120 9.152 4,7 0.120 11.4 | 0.289 Lower Jaw. Number of Teeth, 50. a [=>] — ee co or We Se SS ee eee ee eee ee ee ee i=) : oe) (=) i) j=) ho = Ditto of jaw on this oval hole, .. 2.0 0.050 1.5 Ditto on the 15th tooth, ....... 0.9 0.022 0.7 | Length of symphisis,.....:...--+ | 15.1 0.384 13.1 0.332 Ditto on prolongation to posterior extreme of articular bone, ....ec 10.7 0.271 9.3 0.236 Breadth on articular bones, ...... 8.6 0.218 5.8 0.147 Wittovon ,23d, tooth, iiss cvcsielese¢ « 3.0 0.076 2.5 0.064 elo thy iGittonreielsjeyeterstexcieisse 1.6 0.040 1.3 0.032 Mer Sdi ditto, “cccheeeee 1.55 0.039 1.3 0.032 Ns DGENtlOn etetvay sereretarctcne 1.85 0.047 1.6 0.040 H LSE) Cittone.G..c cle ctiee cre 1.4 0.035 1.2 0.030 Length of oval hole at posterior ex- treme! Of dentally iar v.05 oc dele 1.35 0.034 Is 0.032 WMenihbofiditto, AA... het. 0.6 0.0155 0.45 | 0.012 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL GHARIAL wy) or) This fossil is water worn, and some of the projecting bones, especially of the sphenoid, are mutilated at the extremities ; but the general character of the head, and the form and position of the foramina, &c. appear to cor- respond completely with that of the existing Gharidl. There is no approach to any of the peculiarities pointed out by Cuvier in the Caen and other fossils. On the upper surface we have, in the frontal, the same concavity between the orbits; the same form of the crotaphite foramina, with the parietal surface between them of the same comparative width ; the posterior frontal separating the orbit from the crotaphite fora- mina corresponds; the form of the mastoid bones both in themselves and at their articulation with the apophysis of the os tympani, strictly agree with the existing Gharial of the present rivers.—The same may be said of the lateral and lower faces, in the external widening out of the pterygoid apophyses, in the situation of the hinder nasal fossa; the elevation of the orbital edge of the pyal; with the deep emargination, the form and propor- tions of the jugal; with the temporal fossa, and the sharp elongated inter- nal process of the squamous bone: the form of the palatine holes, and the relative situation of the teeth to these holes, are points all of which agree with the living animal ! The animal to which this fossil belonged was not quite 20 feet long— the complete head from the tip of the muzzle to the posterior margin of the occipital condyle being about 47 inches. The measurements which I have made of the existing Gharidl shew the proportion of the head to the length of animal as 1 to 5. The following measurements of another fragment, consisting of the anterior extremity of the beak or muzzle of the upper jaw will still further- go to establish the resemblance. Existing Animal. AY Fossil. 10 Feet 5 Inches long.| 8 Feet 8 Inches long. Inches. Métres. | Inches. Métres. |Inches.| Métres. Length of intermaxillary on suture below, Biessiolelelatsintricteneraiecs sulieioiele 5.11 0.129 4.4. 0.111 8.30 | 0.210 Breadth on -9thitoothy. joke ke ee 1.55 0.038 1.25 0.031 2.70 | 0.069 Ditto 4th Seciieie.e sleleleleleteiee 2.00 0.050 1.60 0.040 3.40 | 0.086 Ditto 3d Se Uidislece sles iesiern its 2.20 0.055 1.80 0.046 4.00 | 0.101 Ditto. alse yoann es a vee 0.70 0.017 0.60 0.015 | 1.40 | 9.035 Depth on 9th tooth, alsieeisintelaiele 0.90 0.022 0.70 0.017 1.40 | 0.035 OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 37 The above is the remain ofa smaller animal than the former one, shewing the alveoli and some of the teeth, as far back as the 10th, on each side of the maxillaries. A more perfect resemblance to the living animal than this could not well be conceived; and it moreover establishes, in the absence of a connected beak and skull, that the fossil animal had pre- cisely the same number of teeth with the living species. The suture con- necting the intermaxillaries with the maxillaries is fortunately strongly marked in the fossil ; the posterior point of the suture occurring opposite the 9th tooth, exactly as it does in the existing animal. The teeth, the form of anterior extremity of muzzle, the outer nasal aperture, with the lower indentations, correspond in every way; and, to descend still further to minutiae, at the commencement of the suture connecting the intermaxil- laries and maxillaries, at a point in the former bone immediately in front of the 6th tooth is a small hollow or indentation : this hollow exists in the same situation and bears the same form in our fossil Gharidl. Of the lower jaw we have only an imperfect fragment of the two branches connected at the commencement of the symphisis :—from the extreme hardness of the crystalline rock in which it is imbedded, we are unable to see further than that the angle of these branches corresponds with the existing animal, a point however which is proved by the fragments of skull which are in our possession, and which, imperfect as they are at the muzzle extremity, shew distinctly the commencement of that tapering form which is peculiar to the Gharial of the present rivers. In volume 5, of the Ossemens Fossiles, Cuvier, in recapitulating the peculiarities and differences between the Crocodiles and Gharidls, says of the latter ‘“ Les pterygoidiens forment au dessus des palatins des espéces ‘‘ de grosses vessies renflées et ovales de la grosseur d’un ceuf de poule, ‘au lieu d’une simple voute cylindrique comme dans les Crocodiles et les “ Caimans, &c.,” and then “ Je n’ai point observé cette vessie dans le “ petit Gavidl, mais je suppose d’autant plus qu'elle est un produit de lage K 38 NOTE on THE FOSSIL GHARIAL or tue SIVALIK HILLS. “¢ que, dans les vieux Crocodiles des Indes, cet endroit est beaucoup plus «‘ renflé que dans les jeunes.” ; These demi-cylindrical swellings are highly developed in the 10 feet 5 inches specimen of which the measurements have been given ; whereas in the smaller and younger animal measuring 8 feet 8 inches, there is no appearance of them ; the sphenoid portion lying under the palatine and extending up to the anterior frontal’s apophysis, in a flat uninflated lami- nated bone. From the little difference that exists between the bones of the Gharidl and of the Crocodile, we are unable to separate the remains of one from those of the other ; a great quantity have been found, teeth, osseous plates, ribs, vertebre, &c., the latter, having the concavo-convex body, and the sacral vertebre, with their transverse processes compressed and cylindrical, agree in every respect with the existing animal. Northern Dodb, October 1, 1835. Plates II. and III., lithographed subsequently to the printing of the above description, illustrate the Author’s observations on the comparison of the fossil with the existing species of Crocodile and Gharial. The necessary explanations are given on the Plates, Skc. As, hes, XIX PUL, \ i ons NEA Oo ANN AAS 1} 4 ARRAS INRIS NY ARAN NSN CROCODILUS BIRORCATUS ay , WY ss CRISUNG SPICLES v7 Me scale SS NN WAS SS SLE @eaywes x" prank 7 aye el i MRE, v WG 0] aya Ni} fry. ) Fragment of Murxxle, Sfrssl S44. 6 bragawnt of Crentum, do. J.B. Tassins Lith*Press. Calcutta AREA ie i} if AT And 4 My My} As, Res. XIX PLM CROCOILUS’ LONCTROSTRIS. the harial. forsd and existing species a Scale | Sa = = 2 === — il — == ae atl. baa ~ (i — au a 1. upper view shill of existing chural of lof 5 4. uuder do 2. beak of do, yorstl % Cran of ilo, (de. under vow of Va 3. Vy; MY), d HH \ NU yy Dl AI. TB. Tassin’s Lith: Press, Calcutta. IIl. NOTE ON THE H.0.S:S.1u..H-1P.POPOTLAM US OF THE / SIVALIK HILLS. By HUGH FALCONER, M.D., Superintendent Botanical Garden, Saharanpur, AND Caprain P. T. CAUTLEY, Superintendent, Doab Canal. From the abundant remains of this genus that have been procured from the Sivéliks, and particularly the perfect specimens now in our own pos- _session, we are at no loss in recognizing the characters which distinguish the Sivalik species so remarkably not only from the existing Hippopotamus of Africa, but also from the fossil species hitherto found and described. The great point of peculiarity is, that the Sivalik fossil has six inci- ‘sors of a character peculiar to itself, independent of the form of cranium which differs very materially from other varieties. The numerous frag- ments in our collection enable the proportions of the bones of the head and face to be very tolerably ascertained ; and these, added to three nearly entire skulls, one of which is that of an animal just approaching adult, and the other two of a more advanced age, are so perfect as to leave no doubt of the characteristic distinctions of one or more new species. 40 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS To the fossil variety now to be described, we propose the name Stva- lensis, a name so far applicable as attaching it to its locality and com- memorating the region in which its remains have been scattered in such profusion. In the African Hippopotamus figured by Cuvier and so fully described in the first volume of the Ossemens Fossiles, we find the incisors consisting of four slightly curved teeth in the upper, and in the lower jaw four straight teeth projecting forwards at an obtuse angle with the plane of the grinding surface, the two centre ones being of considerably larger proportions than the others, and being formidable weapons either for tearing the roots and weeds from which the animal derives its nourishment or for defence. In the fossil Hippopotamus before us these large and powerful teeth are replaced by others of a smaller size but in a greater number, there being no less than six, those in the upper jaw being slightly curved downwards, and those in the lower projecting forwards ; the diameter of these teeth, which are cylinders with truncated ends, is less in the upper than in the lower jaw, and the centrical teeth may be considered as being in some degree larger than those on the right and left. When we advert to the uses to which the incisive teeth of this unwieldy animal are applied, the means of tearing up the food, and the sieve to cleanse that food afterwards ;* we see in this form of tooth, and this arrangement of the muzzle an adapta- tion to the wants as perfect as, although for defence less powerful than, in the existing species. With the six incisors our fossil animal has the canine teeth of the upper jaw with a uniform outline in transverse section, whilst * Vide Lancet :—Prof. GRANT’s Lectures. OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. Al that of the lower jaw is pyriform or pear shaped. The molars resemble those of the existing species, and are numerically the same, the first milk or deciduous tooth which, as in the Horse, falls and is not again replaced, is here also conspicuous. In proceeding to a comparison between the fossil head and that of the Cape Hippopotamus, we are at once struck with the position of the orbit of the Sivalik fossil. Viewing it in profile, the orbit is considerably more advanced and the general contour of the head thereby modified ;—taking a measurement from the posterior extremity of the occipital condyle, to the anterior ridge of the orbit, and from that point to the front of the muzzle, we have in the existing animal a proportion of 3 to 5 and in the fossil 9 to 134, giving to the orbit of the latter a more centrical position on the face; this peculiarity leads to the muzzle and the zygomatic arch being separated by a hollow much more abrupt and much shorter on its antero- posterior line than in the Cape Hippopotamus. The anterior termination of the zygomatic arch on the malar angle is more acute, and the general form of this arch more prominent. The temporal fosse are longer, and the temporal apophysis in its descent to join the malar bone is slightly inclined forwards, placing the posterior angle of the zygomatic arch in a more advanced position and more in front of the occipital surface than in the existing animal. The occipital crest is also more elevated, and the general appearance differs, owing to this position of the orbit ; which, as will be naturally concluded, leads toa different proportion in the bones of the head ; those of the cranium being lengthened, whilst those of the face are shortened in proportion respectively. In the suture separating the temporal apophysis from the jugal, we see the same direction and inclina- tion as in the existing animal. 49 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS We will here introduce the table of measurements in juxtaposition with Cuvier’s of the Hippopotamus of the Cape, and of the European fossil. RUT ~ Existing — | EDIE TR Hippopotamus. Fossil Hippopotamus. Dimensions of Skull. Africa. Europe. Sivalik 1st. | Sivalik 2d. Inches.| Métres.| Inches.| Métres.| Inches.| Métres.| Inches.| Métres. Fn Length from the posterior surface of occipital condyle to the al- veolus of the middle incisors, Length from the upper margin of one orbit to the other, to the TAT. cs 'sie Ko tbieiGie oi sie ojos suka Ditto greatest width of zygomatic arches, Pshwieveis oye eiialaia ere aiars Width of head over the suborbi- tary foramen, ..... dp bjeisin sicis Height of ditto ditto from the border of alveoli,..... a alofe aad Distance of posterior extremity zygomatic apophysis of malar from suborbitary foramen, .... From ditto to the middle of occi- : ee oes | see | 22,6 066 pide si tlie ceeded old eeeo eeco eeae eevee | 11.25 Antero posterior diameter of or- Dulsiped cei Lee Ra ie acecmnerevece Greatest interval between inner side of zygomatic arch and sur- face of cranium, coeereseeees Height of head from posterior border occipital foramen to top of occipital crest;...sceseesds Width of head between inferior angles of occipital crests,.... | 11.0 .280 | 12.8 325 8.8 224 7 246 Length of occipital foramen,.... 2.0 .050 2.6 066 2.0 .050 2.48 | .062 Width of. Gittog . sects vaje'e caine tied .040 1.6 .040 1.8 .032 1.5 .038 Length of line of molars, ...... | 10.25} .260 | 11.85] .300 | 10.5 2.66 9.48 | .240 Distance between alveolus of first molar and canine, .e.cceeeoe From summit of occipital crest to alveolus of middle incisives, .. From ditto to anterior margin of OLDUG eee sieik Sosersicivisie tiereiioists eooe e@eoe eoece eee eeoe From anterior margin of orbit to alveoli of middle incisive,.... Vertical diameter of orbits, .... Interval between alveolus of first or deciduous molar and middle TNCISOUS 5; ye. arebitercts, sve Gist erecevarencrers Width of cranium in rear of the Prontal angles 25:4, ) at : - a > . =) OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 43 The Sivalik fossil noted as No. 1 is a perfect skull with the exception of the incisive bones, and fortunately exhibits the sutures on the upper surface ; a second specimen consisting of the occipital and parietal regions with the frontal as far forward as the front of the orbits ; and a third frag- ment consisting of the incisive bones and teeth with the anterior extremity of the nasals and maxillaries, are those from which we draw a comparison on the bones on the upper and lower surface, and on the form and position of the molars. On the upper surface of the fossil the chaffron instead of running in a flat line slightly concave as in the existing animal, is considerably depressed in the region between the orbits, the superior ridges of which are elevated in proportion, and stand considerably forward on the cranium. From the remarks on the elongated form of the temporal fossa it may be hardly necessary to advert to the similar extension of the sagittal crest, which is proportionally longer, and more marked, with a greater elevation at its junction with the occipital. The broken and fractured boundaries of the nasal aperture in all our specimens of skulls, will not admit of our measurements extending to that point, but we are able from a fragment above referred to, containing the incisive bones and nasal aperture, to note, that the nasal bones are advanc- ed as far forward as those in the living animal, so that a straight line touches their anterior extremities drawn from the front of the canine alveolus on one side to that on the other. The nasal bones do not expand so much towards the rear as in the existing Hippopotamus, and that part connected with the frontal is more blunt and rounded; the distance between the nasal bone and the orbit and the lachrymal juncture is comparatively larger. The lacrymals descend upon the jugal much the same as in the existing animal, but they appear to advance considerably more forward on the face, the anterior extre- mity in conjunction with the nasal and maxillary being exactly over the last vicarious molar, whereas that figured by Cuvier represents this point as over the second true molar. The suborbitary foramen is also more advanced. and the hollow in which it is situated, formed by the bulge of the jugal and 44 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS canine alveolus, is as we before remarked more abrupt. The figure of the muzzle is very similar to the African variety, with a modification in the form of the incisives adapted to the particular form of the teeth. The width of the muzzle is comparatively greater, but the separation of the whole into four bluff swellings with the spaces intervening for the incisive sutures, is a point which has a close resemblance in the existing animal. The frontal angle is more acute in the fossil ; the coronal crest runs more obliquely backwards, and the antero-posterior length of the frontal is twice as much as in the African. From the rounded form of the nasal suture in its contact with this bone, the anterior part of the frontal forms a tongue bound- ed by the lachrymal in front and by the nasal and orbit on the two sides. From the depth of the temporal fossa, asin the existing animal, the width of the cranium is somewhat less than that of the muzzle over the suborbitary foramina, and the interval between the inner side of the zygomatic arch and the surface of the cranium is somewhat less than the width of the cranium. On the lower surface we are unfortunately not so well provided with sutures to guide us in our comparative dimensions ; for, with the exception of those between the lines of molars which are in themselves not very dis- tinct, there are none whatever. The position of the bones in rear of the palatal sinus appears to correspond with that of the existing animal, although the relative dimensions and proportions will, it is supposed, be modified by the peculiarities described in the upper surface, and dependent on the lengthened form of this region. The basillary mastoid apophyses, and the slightly concave surface of the glenoid cavity, appear to resemble those of the Cape Hippopotamus ; this latter cavity is more in rear of the most salient projection of the zygomatic arches than in the living animal. In the form and position of the molars the only remark that may be made is onthe non- parallelism of the lines : Cuvier describes those of the Cape Hippopotamus as parallel but slightly curving outwards towards the front (un peu ecartées en avant) ; we see some difference in our different specimens, but in all, there is a curving outwards both in front and rear, the middle of the palaie being the OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 45 most contracted. This curving outwards is most shewn towards the front where the lines of molars appear to attempt a parallelism with the outer line of the maxillary bone, instead of running parallel to each other. The space between the most advanced molar and the canine is very much smaller in the fossil than in the existing animal, a point that may depend perhaps on the substitution of the six small incisors requiring but small alveoli, for the large ones (especially the two centrical) require a much larger surface and a much greater depth to admit of their being securely fixed. The palate is, as in the living animal, marked by a deep fissure in front, between the incisive bones ; and the suture appears similar ; but this is not very dis- tinct in the fragment from which we draw our comparisons ; the two incisive holes are very distinct, but those referred to by Cuvier as commencing on the edge of the maxillaries in a small channel and terminating on the inci- sives by another hole, are not so distinctly marked, although it is by no means improbable that in clearing the fossil which is imbedded in a hard and crystalline sandstone, the two holes have been made into one; we have before noted the fissure separating the incisive bones, and those (not so strongly marked but equally open outwardly) of the junction between the incisives and maxillaries, or that space between the canine and the third incisive. The extremity of the muzzle in front of the two canines, forms part of a circle ; if this segment be divided into seven equal parts, and one part given to each echancrure (of which there are three), and two parts to each of the incisive bones containing the alveoli of the incisors ; a tolerable idea of the proportions of this region will be obtained. The incisors of the upper jaw as before remarked are in diameter smaller than those of the lower; they project but slightly from the alveoli, are directed downwards, and obliquely truncated on their internal faces. It now merely remains with us to compare the occipital face with that of the African animal which may be best done by a reference to our table of measurements. We note however the great difference in the proportions in breadth to height, which in the above animal are as 2 to 1, whereas in the M 46 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS Sivalik fossil the proportion is as 3 to 2, shewing as was before remarked an increased height of the occipital crest—To proceed therefore to the lower jaw : In comparing the lower jaw with that of the existing animal, indepen- dently of the additional incisors, we have amarked difference and distinction in the form of the ramus, the enormous descending process of which is if any thing more extravagantly developed. This strange appendage peculiar to the genus, and formed for the attachment of the masseter and temporal muscles is here of a form less tapering and more deep and massive in its proportions than in the existing animal ; the posterior margin is more round and the anterior, or that descending from the base of the maxillary bone, which in the existing animal is curved and pointed forwards, is here blunt and unmarked by any peculiarity of form. This angle is inclined outwards, and the outer surface is as depressed for the reception of the muscles as that of the living Hippopotamus. We observe no increase of height in the coronoid process, but it differs from the living animal in not being projected so much forward. There appears to be no difference in the condyles nor in their position with reference to the form of the jaw; the line of the grinding surface (the specimen from which we draw this description is a lower jaw joined at the symphisis, and only broken at the posterior extremities) is inclined to the outwardly curved direction, described as a peculiarity in the upper surface : the teeth do not appear to differ from those of the animal now living, but the space between the front molar and the canine is, as in the upper jaw, more contracted. ‘The canines protrude from the alveoli considerably, in a curve slightly inclined backwards at the point, which is obliquely truncated on the internal surface, from the root or point where it leaves the alveolus to the tip. The space for the incisors and the incisive teeth themselves differ as was before remarked, from the existing animal, the large central incisors of which are here replaced by much smaller ones. The number of incisors in the fossil is six, of nearly equal dimensions, cylindrical, inclined outwards at an obtuse angle to the plane OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 47 of the grinding surface, and sharply truncated at the internal side at the point. In taking the dimensions of the incisive teeth of the upper and lower jaw from two specimens of adult animals we find their proportions as follows :— Inches. Métres. Diameter of incisor—upper jaw, o.-sseconsecccccacess vectswees 0.9 0.022 Ditto ditto—lower ditto, ...... JOU COCO BOO ODO ob abo omdoee 0.7 0.018 Tf there is any fixed difference in the size of the teeth of each jaw, it exists in the second incisor being a little less than the others. It may be necessary to note here with regard to the number of molars in the lower jaw, that amongst the great number of specimens before us of animals of all ages, we see no mark or vestige of the first milk tooth, or that which, as was mentioned before, falls and is not replaced ; and the space between the adjacent molar and the canine is so contracted as hardly to admit of room for another tooth ; but as this tooth exists in the upper jaw in every speci- men in our possession, we may infer that its non-presence in the lower jaw is accidental. In viewing the lower jaw in profile, we see that the anterior angle below the canines is somewhat more abrupt, and more inclined to the form represented as belonging to the European fossil species, the depth of the inferior maxillary is more regular, and the form of the posterior branches as before described, very different. ‘The lower surface exhibits a width of symphisis equal to that of the living animal, and the angle formed by the branching off of the two sides is also similar. The width across the muzzle from the exterior side of the canine alveolus to the other is comparatively greater in the Sivalik fossil, and the extreme width of jaw, over the penul- timate false molar, less. It will be seen that these differences of form cor-. respond with those of the skull ; the advanced position of the orbit and the contraction of the sinus in which the infra-orbitary holes are situated, leading to a modification in the whole form of the grinding surface. Having made the comparison with the Cape and existing Hippopo- tamus, we will cursorily note the differences that strike us when comparing 48 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS it with the fossil described by Cuvier as belonging to the cabinet of. the Grand Duke of Tuscany and figured in the first volume of the Ossemens Fossiles. The distinctive differences will be perhaps best observed by a reference to the table of measurements : we see however that our fossil in the gradual slope of the malar process towards the cheek corresponds ; but differs completely in the hollow formed at this point between the jugal bone and canine alveolus which in our fossil is more abrupt and marked. The length of the parietal region of the European fossil is even less than that of the existing animal, and their proportions relatively with the bones of the face less. In the Sivalik fossil, the advanced position of the orbit completely modifies the whole form, and, by equalizing the proportions of the anterior and posterior divisions, gives a new style of appearance to the cranium. In the fall of the occipital crest towards the region between the orbits, and a consequent increased height of occipital surface, the Sivélik and Florence fossils also agree. In the proportion of the frontal surface to the area of the rest of the skull the resemblance also holds good ; but we have the same difference in the relative position of the canines to the molars ; the Florence and African species corresponding in this respect. The grand distinction of the incisives and canines, both in form and num- ber, is peculiar to the Hippopotamus Sivalensis. In the lower jaw the space between the two branches, and the angle which is internally formed by them does not resemble that of the Florence fossil ; but, as we before remarked, is more assimilated to that of the existing animal in being round at the angle, and the whole interval space being more open : the descending process of the ramus differs, as explained before; and the form of the anterior angle of the jaw below the canines is somewhat similar and not so gradually round- ed off as in the living animal. The difference in size and number of the incisors leads to a difference which, as before noted in the comparison with the living animal, needs not be made the subject of further remark here. With the Hippopotamus Sivalensis and that figured in the Relique Dilwiane, described as found in a peat bog in Lancashire, and of which OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 49 a drawing is given in Professor Buckianp’s work alluded to, little resem- blance is recognizable. The Lancashire fossil has the four incisors, with a lower jaw of proportions apparently quite unique, and with a prominency of arch in the nasal bone equally so. We may however remark the elevated occipital crest, and the fall towards the space between the orbits which exists in the Lancashire fossil, as this appears to be general to the fossil species, relieving the head from that straightness of chaffron which is noted as one of the peculiarities of the African Hippopotamus. Having concluded our remarks regarding the Hippopotamus Sivalensis; we now come to another and a smaller species of this genus which appears to have been less numerous, but with the remains of which we are sufficiently provided, although in the possession of only two fragments ; one the imper- fect skull of an old animal with the teeth much worn ; and the other the right side of the lower jaw, shewing an unusual contraction or narrowness in the symphisis ; this latter fragment contains five molars, the rear one perfect, and the last false molar sufficiently marked to establish the age of the animal ; this was past adult, the first and second advanced cylinders of the rear molar being worn, and the third or rear one in the state of germ, but fully out of the alveolus. The form of this tooth differs from the great Hippo- potamus in the absence of the trefoil, the wear of the coronals of each pair of collines taking a crescentic form outwards, not unlike that of ruminants, the grinding surface sloping outwards, very similar to the description given by Cuvier of the Hippopotamus Minutus. The form of the jaw, however, is peculiar, the marked features consisting of a general slenderness of proportions, and an inequality in the depth, which being contracted at the point of the descending process, gets gradually deeper, and diminishes again still more gradually up to the symphisis: in the great Hippopotamus we have a straight, thick, massive jaw. The foramen for the artery distinctly exhi- bited in the fossil, enters just behind the last tooth on the internal face of the ramus, and shews itself again on the opposite side just between and under the fourth and fifth molar, in a markedly large hole from which, to N 50 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS the space between the tusk and the most advanced molar, there is a deep channel or indentation running upwards in a curved line parallel to the lower face of the jaw. The anterior and posterior portions of this beautiful fragment are unfortunately wanting, but a small part of the symphisis, at which point the fossil terminates, is distinctly marked, as well as the trans- verse section of the canine or tusk which as in the large animal is pear- shaped. A considerable portion of the anterior extremity is wanting, and with the tusk the fracture shews only one alveolus or hollow for an incisive tooth: the existence of two, however, can hardly be doubted, but the narrowness of the front may make a greater number than four between the two canines problematical. The ramus of this specimen is strongly marked on its anterior part by an elevated ridge pointing angularly forwards, and pushing forward a nearly flat surface to the centre of the rear tooth; the descending process is unfortunately too much broken to allow of our speak- ing decidedly, but the angle of departure from the straight line of the jaw isabrupt. The other remains of this smaller species to which we have alluded, consist of a skull, the front and rear of which is broken off, and one line of molars with the palate only perfect. The superimposed cranium would appear to be contorted by pressure, as is by no means uncommon, but this circumstance would lead us to refrain from an attempt at cha- racterizing its peculiarities. The molars consist of the three rear permanent ones, and the last false molar, this latter one exhibiting the crescentic form of wear on its coronal surface described as peculiar to the first fragment. The other molars are much worn, and therefore with the exception of the encircling ridge of enamel, we have but those flexures which would have brought us to a correct conclusion. These molars are remarkably broad in proportion to their antero-posterior dimensions, and have an oblique grinding surface as before described in the other fragment. We may remark, that should these two remains belong to a small Hippopo- tamus of the same species, the great difference in the breadth of the grinding surface in the upper and lower jaws, as marked as is in the Rhinoceros, OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 51 would establish a species with (in this respect) rather unusual peculiarities. To this smaller species we propose the name of dissimilis, from the differ- ences of form from the rest of the genus. From the above additions to the species of the Hippopotamus, and from the marked distinctions in the incisive apparatus of the Hippopotamus Sivalensis, we shall perhaps be justified in at once establishing a new subgenus in this genus of mammalia, fixing the subgeneric characters on the incisive teeth. So marked a distinction in the form, number and character of the incisors will we imagine admit of such an arrangement, with every advantage to science, and in taking this step we place the new subgenus in the following position and order :— Genus—H1PPoOPOTAMUS. Ist Subgenus—HExXAPROTODON. 1. Species, H. Sivalensis (N oBis.) 2, us H. Dissimilis (Nos.) an hic, vel infra, potius referendus ? 2nd Subgenus—TETRAPROTODON. 1. Species, H. Amphibius. 2 Lp H. Antiquus. (Cuv.) fossil. 3. 3 H. Minor (Cuv.) fossil. 4 is H. Medius (Cuv.) fossil. is H. Minimus (Cvuv.) fossil. qn The specific characters of the first species of our new subgenus being as follows :— Genus—HiPPOPOTAMUS. Subgenus—HEXAPROTODON. Species—SIVALENSIS. Char. H. dentibus primoribus utrinque sex, subequalibus ; laniariis difformibus : superioribus nempe quoad sectionem transversalem reniformibus : inferioribus pyriformibus ; cranio elongato ; oculo ad medium caput fere attingente ; facie ad latera valdé sinuata. Before closing this paper, we may make a few general remarks on the remains of this genus, which, with the exception of the Mastodons and Elephants, are by far the most numerous. 53 NOTE ON THE FOSSIL HIPPOPOTAMUS As may be imagined in such an extensive collection we find the remains of animals of all ages, with teeth in every variety and state of detrition ; from the young animal with the complicated and_ triple cylindered milk tooth, to the old and worn-down molar without any mark of the trefoil, and with a simple encircling ridge of enamel. In the fossil skull described as approaching adult (from which the measure- ments noted as No. 1. have been taken) we have a beautiful exhibition of the teeth in that state when the animal has just lost its last milk tooth, and the new molar or ‘dent de remplacement’ is just shewing itself in germ, whilst the last permanent molar, or that most posterior, is in the same state of advancement, having just pierced the bone: the oldest tooth in the head or the first permanent molar is just worn to that state, when the development of the trefoil crown is most perfect ; the second permanent molar is just shewing this appearance on its two front pillars ; the front false or pointed molars are unworn, and exhibit in all their perfection the richly embossed surface, which is peculiar to these teeth in the Hippopotami. The first false molar or milk tooth seems to have retained its position in many of our fossils long after the fall of the other milk teeth, and long after the arrival of the animal at the adult state. In some of our skulls which are the remains of very old animals, we observe the alveolus of this tooth very distinct, and having the appearance more of having been broken off in the fossil, than of having been lost previous to the death of the animal, in which case moreover a filling in of the pit from the growth of the bone would be more or less evident in the fossil. From the natural wear of the tusks upon each other, the truncated extremity of the upper one, and in the Hippopotamus Sivalensis that which is described as reniform, occurs on the convex or outer side of the tusk ; and this must be the case wherever the tusk belongs to the upper jaw. Amongst a very extensive and very large collection, containing as we before remarked three perfect skulls, with a number of fragments of nearly perfect lower jaws, with a great number of pieces of both more or less mutilated, the reniform tusk is an invariable appendage to the upper, and the pyriform to the lower jaw. OF THE SIVALIK HILLS. 53 Our collection however exhibits one solitary instance of the anterior extre- mity of a reniform tusk truncated on the inner or concave surface; this unfortunately is a separate fragment, and unattached to any portion of the jaw, and bearing in itself no further mark of its having existed in the Jower jaw than this truncation of the extremity. It is difficult to imagine any fortuitous circumstance that would have produced such an anomaly, and it is at the same time difficult to come to a conclusion contrary to the facts elicited by such an extensive collection of remains, in which we see no sign of the reniform character of the canine in the upper jaw ; should the trunca- tion alluded to noé be accidental, or caused by some deformity in the position in the alveolus, we have yet to discover a variety of the Hippopotamus with the reniform tusk in the lowerjaw. The fact of the existence of this fragment however may be as well noted ; as we observe peculiarities of form in other fragments of the bones of the head that may ultimately prove to belong to different species. We have contented ourselves with drawing our com- parisons from the bones of tke head, without any reference to the osseous structure generally of the animal, in which our collections however abound, especially in vertebra, and the solid articulating extremities of the bones. A more lengthened period of search and examination, will add much to the value of an enquiry upon this point, and a comparison with the actual bones of the Cape Hippopotamus instead of with Cuvier’s drawings, will render any attempt at a discrimination of existing differences, easier, and when completed and worked out, doubly valuable. Northern Dodb, November 15, 1835. Note.—At the time of ordering this article to press, (25th January 1836,) the drawings of the varieties of Fossil Hippopotamus in the Museum of Messrs. FALCONER and CAUTLEY have not reached the Society. The omission is however in a great measure supplied by the drawings of the specimens in the Dddupur Museum of Lieutenants BAKER and DurRanp, presented to the Society by the latter Officer, which are published, together with his descriptive Note, in the following article. Sec. 54 SPECIMENS or THE HIPPOPOTAMUS AnD oTHER IV. SPECIMENS OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS anp oruer FOSSIL GENERA OF THE SUB-HIMALAYAS IN THE DADUPUR COLLECTION. By Lizurenant H. M. DURAND, ENGINEERS. Tue discovery of the existence of fossil organic remains in the vicinity of the village of Rayawdla and in the Marakanda pass, has led to the examina- tion of the tract of tertiary hills lying between the river Jumna and Pinjor. From different parts of the line specimens have been obtained, and the fact of its richness in such relics fully established. The greater number of the specimens in the Déddipur collection are from the hills lying between the Marakanda pass and Pinjor ; the calca- reous sandstone prevalent in these formations has usually afforded them ; an exception however occurs in the neighbourhood of Dudgehr, when the matrix, instead of sandstone, is a red indurated marl in which not only the remains of mammalia and reptilia are found, but those of mollusca also. The native collector reported them to occur together, and along with the shells produced fragments of bones and vertebrae of Sawrtans. Having had no opportunity of visiting the place, I can neither corroborate his statement, uor particularize the site of the deposit. The shells appear to belong to FOSSIL GENERA or THE SUB-HIMALAYAS. 55 fresh-water species ; they are not abundant and are generally in a bad state of preservation. The red marl is with difficulty disengaged from the specimens, any attempt to separate the shell from the matrix being usually at the expense of the epidermis, and too frequently at that of the valves themselves. The varieties are few in number, but the determination of fossil species requires so much experience and nice discrimination that no apology will be requisite to excuse silence on this interesting pomt. A selection which is to be placed at the Society’s disposal, will it is hoped afford the means of determining the question.* The univalves bear a small portion to the bivalves, being on the ratio of 1 to 100 ; it must however be remarked that the quantity hitherto collected being small, the above proportion might be materially affected by an inconsiderable increase to the number of spe- cimens. The same remark is applicable to the result deduced from the number of upper and lower jaws, or portion of jaws at present in the collection ; the proportion of the proboscidia to the pachydermata, properly so called, is in the ratio of 3to 1—that of the proboscidia to the ruminanitia, 5 to 1. Both proportions may be expected to vary considerably in the course of future researches. Many of the specimens have undergone fracture since they were imbedded in their present matrix ; some are much distorted ; and a few are crushed. The Hippopotamus’ upper jaws have in consequence of their shape, been frequent sufferers : out of eight upper jaws more or less com- plete scarcely can two be called straight ; the remainder arecrooked. Illus- trative of the effect produced on some of the relics is the sketch fig. 11, Pl. VII. This horn evidently must have undergone fracture when imbedded ; * Some of them are figured in Pl. XLVIII. figs. 45, 46, 47, 48 of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, vol. LV. ‘They resemble precisely the shells transmitted from the Prome fossil field in Ava, by Lieut.-Colonel BURNEY. SEc. 56 SPECIMENS or tae HIPPOPOTAMUS anp cTHER the pressure of the circumjacent sandstone has kept the splinters in their places until they were cemented together, as at present. When adverting to any of the accompanying sketches I shall notice those which have suffered. I may here remark that the following brief notes and their accompany- ing sketches, are forwarded with the view of filling up any hiatus which may be found amongst the Hippopotamus remains, transmitted by Colonel Corvin, to the Asiatic Society ; and of bringing part of the Dddipur collec- tion to notice when his valuable despatch is examined and classified. HipporotamMus—Lower Jaws. Fig. 1. Pl. IV, is the lower jaw of a full grown animal; the small ante- rior molars are absent, the posterior molars much worn; the junction of the two halves of the jaw presents a curve of much regularity ; the narrowest part of the jaw occurs at the third molar, or at the second if the advanced ones be not counted ; the exterior curve of the maxillaries both anteriorly and to the rear is bolder, giving a longer versed sine than observable in Cuvier’s plates of the existing and fossil species described by him: the base line of the incisor teeth, or that at which they protrude from the jaw isin a line with the centre of the canines, so that taking a side view their protrusion from the jaw is not seen. Fig. 2, Pl. IV, is from a specimen in the possession of Conductor Dawe which doubtless belonged to a younger and smailer animal than the former. One of the 1st molars is present; the 6th and 7th are litthe worn. The incisors are nearly equal in diameter ; the right central one presents a worn angular surface, produced it may be supposed by an upper incisor. The above specimens appear to be of one species. Figs. 3 and 5, Pl. IV, are mere fragments, interesting however from the shape and strize of the canines and the proportion of the diameters of the incisors amongst themselves. The centre ones are the largest ; those next to FOSSIL GENERA or tot SUB-HIMALAYAS. 57 them the smallest, and the exterior ones hold a mean between the two. No whole jaw of this description is in the collection, and the frag- ments are such as not to warrant any deductions from the distinctions here noticed. Fig. 4, Pl. IV, presents a marked difference in the shape of the incisors, which are more elliptical than in the preceding varieties. The exterior incisors have a section not observable in any other speci- men; and are, relatively to the four centre incisors, set lower than the analogous incisors of other varieties—may not this be considered a distinct species ! | Fig. 3, Pl. V, is a fragment from the lower jaw of a small Hippopo- tamus, it contains the two posterior molars, the advanced one differs in shape and proportionate dimensions from the analogous molars of the larger species ; the fore part of the tooth is much narrower than the after part; the length of the tooth measured along the jaw is equal to that of the same tooth in the larger species, the jaw is more curved and fines off more rapidly towards the front than in the larger animals: it is so narrow in front of the advanced tooth as to suggest the possibility of their having been fewer molars than seven. Hiprorpotamus—Upper Jaws. Fig. 1, a, 6, Pl. VI, is from the head of an old animal, the teeth being very much worn: the specimen is so much cracked, that the sandstone could not be cleared from the temporal fossa. On comparison with the species described by Cuvier many differences may be observed. I shall however confine myself to noticing a few distinctions which exist among the specimens before me, without alluding to those which will immediately strike the eye on comparing Cuvier’s plates and the accom- panying sketches. Fig. 1, Pl. V, is taken from a specimen, the head of an adult animal ; it varies from the former in the shape and prominence of the orbits, in the P 58 SPECIMENS or tHe HIPPOPOTAMUS aANp orHER ereater concavity of the head between the orbits, and the more rapid rise of the ridge : this specimen is also much cracked and consequently could not be altogether cleared of matrix. ! 43 Another specimen in our collection (omitted for want of room in the engraving) has, in general form and degree of preservation, a resemblance to Fig. 1, of Pl. VI. It:is from the head of an aged animal: the roots of . the canines are. visible and present a heart-shaped section. There is however much difference between the two ; the most striking dissimilarities are the insertion and start of the canines, which attest shorter nasal bones to have belonged to this species; the shape and prominence of the orbits; and the greater concavity of interorbital space.. The specimen under consideration, has a nearer resemblance to Fig. 1, of Pl. V, but belonged to a somewhat smaller animal. Fig. 2, Pl. VI, is given as shewing distinctly the sutures, which dis- agree in several points with those of species hitherto described, both as existing or in a fossil state. Fig. 1, Pl. VI, may be considered as one species ; Fig. 1, Pl. V, and Fig. 2, Pl. VI, as having belonged to another species possessing the cardi- form canines of which so many fragments are disinterred. Fig. 12, a, b, c, Pl. VII, belonged to a small Hippopotamus, and | presents two peculiarities—Ist, the great breadth of its ridge as shewn in Fig. 12; a. 2ndly.—The depth of its occipital condyles, which is greater in proportion to the height of the occiput, than those of the large Hippopotamus. Fig. 12, Pl. VII, though possessing the peculiarities above noticed, affords too narrow grounds for the establishment of a separate species. The lower jaws agree in one respect, namely that of all having six incisors, in this differing from the existing and fossil species hitherto described. The upper jaws have the proportion between the external breadth of their occipital condyles and the breadth at their orbits similar to that e ad of natural dimensions. or Scale is) Ab Z Ze, fom ZS wat ra, Az 23 ty 42: CGT AUTH! LEeLgy fyi \WYij//) Uy | | HAN Mh Zl Wh J Durand des . Scale 5rd of natural diunersions BONS SS SS @ i ES == = NSS : =e eS S <= waiul we “ ee Y yous Dy Ay ey) y “i MOAN ff YP? JA eg Lis “i a Nips ree a rie VEN Ys Mra By RE tee 4 , Pins: Rare ee eT Oe he tn nd ham eed Ua OE ee a oe Mh \ SY \ CaS } CSA a erat SO SNA SUNOS \\ ~eN a ) hig 42 (o>) SS \ ——~S, of he, Sub-fimalay ws. SS SVys NAAR Ax SSS Re SE PEAR YS ASA SEAT ¢, SS > SZ) ATATAN Lio N2.c. x) paid M, XD oa 7 ee ego eee" = $, ( SY) KM ti, MY |i) Why IPurand des ees pe mL dal" So | FOSSIL GENERA or THe SUB-HIMALAYAS. 59 stated to exist in the living species by Dr. Apams, twice the occipital con- dyles’ breadth equalling the breadth at the orbits. Figures 2a, 26, 2d, Pl. V, and Fig. 6, Pl. IV, are taken from a speci- men which is the only one of the kind hitherto met with. It is a fragment from the jaw of some pachydermatous animal* ; but differs materially from all with which it has been compared: further discoveries will it is hoped throw light on this interesting fragment. Fig. 9, a, 6, ¢, Pl. VII, is a fragment from the jaw of an animal sup- posed to belong to the genus Sus. (Sus Sivalensis, Fan. and Caur.) Fig. 6, Pl. VII, molar of a small Hippopotamus. Fig. 7 and 10 a, 6, molars supposed to belong to species of the Siva- thertum.} Fig. 8, a perfect tooth, the lower part of which has a white enamel ; the upper part is a dark brown cone, longitudinally striated—I have deli- neated it in consequence of its dissimilarity to the drawings or specimens of Saurian teeth which have come under my observation.{ * The drawing of this fragment so much resembled CuviER’s plates of the Hippopotamus, that I wondered at the author’s misgivings on the subject, and wrote to interrogate Dr. FALCONER previous to putting the present page to press. Dr. F. however assures me that the fragment undoubtedly does not belong to that animal; but, as Lieuts. BAKER and Duranp had rightly conjectured, to a new pachydermatous animal, to which Captain CaAUTLEY and himself have from other specimens given the name of Cherotherium: ‘‘the engraving is imperfect, and so much like the Hippopotamus, that it might be easily mistaken. The dif- ference in the original tooth however is well marked. There is no real trefoil on it ; the appear- ance is spurious: the plane of wearing is oblique; the spur is strongly bifid ; and the collines or mamillary processes are wide apart.” J. P. + Dr, FALCONER remarks on the engravings: Figs. 10, a, 6. ‘‘ they exhibit the form well, but they do not give the characters of the surface of the teeth, which is striated reticularly with rugous eminences.” A tooth of the same kind, obligingly sent down by dak for my inspection, exhibits these peculiarities very distinctly; I hope shortly to have an opportunity of engraving it.—J. P. { Croc. biporcatus of the preceding paper by Captain CAUTLEY. 60 INDICATION OF A V. INDICATION OF A NEW GENUS OF THE CARNIVORA, WITH DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES ON WHICH IT IS FOUNDED. By B. H. HODGSON, Esa. Resident in Nepal. FAMILY CARNIVORA. TRIBE PLANTIGRADES. GENUS URSITAXUS. MIHI. Cheek Teeth %:*: of ursine flatness almost, but musteline disposition ;* the tubercular of the upper jaw, smooth-crowned, narrow, parallelogrammic and smaller than the Carnivorous : none in the lower jaw: two false molars above and three below on either side: general conformation of the animal similar to that of the Badger, but wanting external ears: anal glands as in Mydaus. REMARK.— The natural affinities of this Genus are with Ursus, Taxus, and Mydaus ; but chiefly with Taxus. Tue single animal from which the above characters are drawn was procured by me in 1829, since which period I have in vain endeavoured to obtain another: and, as I see no immediate prospect of better success in my search, I shall not longer defer giving such account of it as my materials * That is, a disposition partially transverse, exhibited in the inner heel of the carnivorous tooth, and the whole body of the tuberculous one of the upper jaw. This arrangement of the teeth appears to be appendant to the true cutting type, and is not therefore developedin Ursus, or in other true plantigrades. Amongst the digitigrades it is common, and particularly so in the mustelide. NEW GENUS OF CARNIVORA. 61 enable me to supply.* The specimen I obtained was a mature male. It was recently killed, but had had the intestines removed before it was brought to me from the vale of Muckwanpur, at the southern base of the last mountainous range towards India, whence I infer that its habitat is the hilly portion of the southern region of Népdl. Spectes—Ursitaxus Inaurirus. Earvess Ursirax. Mihi. This is a low-legged unwieldy massive animal, with the general con- formation and size of the Badger, from which, however, it differs most materially in its system of dentition, and more obviously in the want of external ears, the harshness and scantiness of its single coat of hair, and the disposition and number of its palmary tubercles. The Earless Ursitax or Bear-Badger is thirty-two inches from the snout to the root of the tail, which is five inches long, or six and a half if measured with the terminal hair. The girth of its body, behind the shoulder, is twenty-nine inches, and the massiveness thence inferrible is maintained uniformly throughout its proportions. It is purely plantigrade and fosso- rial, dwelling in burrows on the southern slopes of the hills, and very seldom appearing abroad by day. The face, though not elongated, is conic and suddenly sharpened towards a neat, round, immobile, clearly defined and ungrooved muzzle in which the nostrils are opened to the front, but have a narrow prolongation to the sides. The lips are closely applied to the jaws and entirely void of mustachios: nor are there any bristles on the cheeks, above the eyes or on the chin: the cheeks are full and fleshy : the head broad, and as much depressed almost as the Otter’s: the eyes small, * This animal is mentioned by the local name of Bharsiah, in the catalogue of Nipalese Mammals, (1832) ; and its peculiar dentition is therein summarily described. Q 62 INDICATION OF A round, level with the cheeks, possessed of a third lid which may be drawn two-thirds over the cornea, and of a round pupil; their position nearly equidistant from the snout and ear. ‘The nude ears are shaped and dis- posed pretty much as in the human subject: but the helix is wholly want- ing, being replaced by a marginal obtuse swelling of the skin merely. The parallel portion of the anti-helix is rather more sharply defined; but the transverse is wholly absent: the tragus distinct, but the anti-tragus and lobe evanescent. The conch is elongated vertically like the rest of the organ, with but a small cavity and no superior definite limitation : the opening into the interior simple, apert, and round: the neck of the animal short and very thick: the body still thicker; being as deep almost as the length of the limbs, which are short and powerful, particularly the anterior ones. The digits are 5 in all four extremities, blended with the metacarpal and metatarsal joints so as to constitute solid pads for the feet, the anteal half only of the last phalanges being free, and connected superiorly by a small strong membrane which is firmly attached to the nails. The inferior surface of the hands and feet, to the back of the wrist and to the os calcis is perfectly nude, the palms and soles being full, soft, and fleshy. At the forward end of each anterior digit is a very large ball, suitable to keep the huge nails from embarrassing the animal’s walk ; but the bases of all the 5 digits rest on one, undivided, round, pad, behind which is another, as large almost, and of similar shape, for the metacarpi. The balls of the hinder extremities resemble those of the fore, save that the metatarsal pad lies less centrally behind the termino-digital one, and is somewhat less developed. The gradation of the anterior digits is thus: the central largest, then the index, next the annular, then the external finger, retracted as in our hand, and with its nail similarly diminished ; last the internal one, subremote as with us, but much the feeblest of all. The hind feet are considerably smaller than the fore: they have the external digits less retracted ; the talons of the whole much less developed ; more nearly equal rar NEW GENUS OF CARNIVORA. 63 in size; and gradated upon a different principle—the outermost being the stoutest, and the rest, gradually but trivially diminished in strength towards the inmost. The nails of the anterior extremities are typically fossorial, sub-arched, shallow, stout, obtuse, obliquely compressed with broad convex backs, and a sharpened edge below. The feet and hands of Ursitaxus are precisely similar to the same organs in the Bears, except that the digit answering to the thumb is rather remote in our animal—not so in Ursus—and that the interval between the terminal balls of the digits and their confusion with the palmary mass is nude in Ursitaxus—clad with soft hair in the Bears. The anal glands of the Ursitax differ considerably from those of the Badger, agreeing point by point with the same organ in Mydaus (Horsfield), save only that the excretory ducts are rather longer in our animal and have their termination in the rectum rather nearer to its orifice and to one another. The tongue of the Ursitax resembles that of the Badger, being wholly covered with small papille, neither horny nor aculeated backwards. The covering of our animal consists of harsh hair only, and that very scantily furnished. It is about two inches in utmost length, straight and adpressed, sufficient in quantity to hide the skin upon the superior aspect only of the head, neck and body ; the face, neck and body below, with the limbs internally, being partially nude. The colours are dirty yellow and black, clearly defined by a line passing from the brows along the flanks to the edges of the tail, and leaving all above it of the former—below it, of the latter, hue. The dirty tinge of the yellow upon the superior parts is caused by an admixture of yellow and black hairs, of which the former are more abundant and longer too than the latter, but both of similar harsh character. The tail, 5 inches long and scarcely reaching to the middle of the buttocks, is cylindrico-tapered and covered with hair like the back, the point being fine and a little recurved. 64 INDICATION OF A The following are the detailed dimensions of our animal— Feet. Inch. Tip of snout to base of tail, .......-... Ais Site Sire Te 2 8 Paonia can istorsic sy vreau ree sielniaireneeastennjeuesais 0 5 Darul earn Tat se soy boces sncireng lovee ebatecege ein tara eet cane os 0 6s Carpus (inclusively) to longest finger, .............. 0 At Heel to longest toe, - s...20 03 se eee coe nen ee 0 43 Length of the head, | 2.5.0 «scr Be cssieue Woseaee oleate tee aut 0 63 Nose to fore-corner of eye, -......0..2cececcesees 2 ‘t) ) Thence to. openings OF Cats: s6isih:s i sleet Biel an ste elas la 0 31 Girth of body, behind shoulder, ....0.0..........045 2 5 Longest fore-natly 736 alco iets ce es Paes eae 0 13 Mittochindsdrtto, oye ea ee ae ve oe eee 0 03 The skull is 5% inches long, 34 wide and 23 high. The width is taken, not between the zygomatic arches but between the ale of the transverse crista. There the lateral dimensions are largest owing to the great deve- lopment of the transverse or lambdoidal ridge of the skull before it sweeps upwards to join the zygomatic arches. The skull bears, upon the whole, so great a similitude to that of the Otter, that it may be very well illustrated by pointing out the differences merely between the two. These consist in the slight arcuation of the outline along the parietal portion of the skull in Ursitaxus ; the greater development of the frontal, nasal, and malar, bones ; the diminished length of the zygomatic arches ; the rather more incomplete and less advanced orbits; the very small size of the infra orbitar foramina —which are besides two on either side—and, lastly, the larger development (+ more) of the tympanal bones. In respect to the teeth of the two animals there is no very noticeable difference in the incisors and canines which NEW GENUS OF CARNIVORA. 65 indeed are apt to assimilate in most of the carnivora.* The canines, how- ever, are thicker, shorter and blunter in our animal than in the Otter. The molars, too, of both are formed upon the same ultimately sectorial model and have a similar arrangement in the skulls: but they are fewer in num- ber in Ursitaxus; and the trenchant processes of the crowns are almost obliterated. And, as if to defy all exclusiveness of system on our part, the Otter, with its sharp processes, has a very large flattish heel to the upper carnivorous tooth, and an extremely broad transverse tubercular behind it. On the other hand, the heel of the same tooth in Ursitaxus, though flatter, is smaller; and the tuberculous tooth behind it exhibits a much less, but a smoother, surface. I regret that I have no Badger’s skull wherewith to compare that of the Ursitax. Independently, as far as may be, of all comparisons the skull and teeth of our animal have the following characters. The Skull. tis very thick and solid with numerous rugosities all over its surface ; is rather depressed than compressed, and very slightly but uniformly arched along the vertical line: parietes amply developed, afford- ing alarge cerebral cavity and shallow temporal fossa : the criste of medial height, but running unbrokenly from the bifurcation of the brows to the zygomatic arches ; their chief development being at the point where they sweep round to join those arches: frontal bones of considerable length and width: nasal, short but wide: both slightly convexed across; and, lengthwise, the former convex, the latter, sub-concave: malar bones uncompressed, with two small infra-orbitar foramina on either side: zygomatic arches, short, stout, considerably bulged outwards : orbits medial, very incomplete, there being no process from the zygoma, and but a small one from the os frontis: frontal sinuses medial or largish : occipital bones dipt vertically from the junction of the lambdoidal and sagittal sutures, * In the form of the incisor teeth Ursitaxus differs entirely from Mydaus with which animal it has several points of affinity. Other differences occur in the structure of the ears and of the extremities—not to mention the cardinal distinction between the molar teeth of the two. R 66 INDICATION OF A so that the condyles of the foramen magnum are neither posteal nor anteal to that junction. There is a short but strong vertical crista on the occiput, and a transverse one of much greater extent, parallel and closely approxi- mated to the lambdoidal ridge. The bony separation of the cerebrum and cerebellum is very strong and much developed, leaving a long, elliptic, vertical foramen in the midst, nearly twice the size of the great foramen : the tympanal bones amply developed, semi-ovoid, and reaching forwards to the articulation of the jaws which is so complete, in the cylindrical hinge manner, that the lower jaw can be barely removed from the skull The rami of the lower jaw are nearly straight, very powerful, short, uncompressed or remote, and furnished with large subvertical coronoid processes, and small styloid ones: the condyles nearly on a line with the upper cheek teeth. The Teeth.—The incisors are all disposed rectilinearly to the front, erect, strong, cylindrical in their bodies, and broad-crowned ; the crowns of the lower ones being horizontal—of the upper, obliquely sloped inwards. ‘The external incisors are the stoutest, and the rest gradually decrease in thickness to the central pairs. These teeth are all in contact with each other; and, in lower range, with the canines also: but the front teeth of the upper jaw have a necessary interval from the canines for their passage. The canines are short, stout, obtuse, conic, and of equal size above and below. They are mutually scarped by friction against each other, but exhi- bit no heel. The upper canines are straight; the lower, subcurved. All the molars are in contact with each other, but not quite with the canines. They are sixteen in all—four on each side of either jaw, of which the two first of the upper, and three first of the lower range are false molars ; the 3d above, and the 4th below, the carnivorous tooth ; and the 4th above, the tuberculous one. Below there is no such tooth. All are disposed lengthwise, save the tuberculars of the upper jaw which have a transverse arrangement, causing a triangular vacancy between them and the internal NEW GENUS OF CARNIVORA. 67 heels of the carnivorous teeth of the same jaw. The molars gradually increase in size as they recede from the canines in the lower jaw ; but, in the upper, the carnivorous tooth is considerably larger than the tubercular; which latter is of the form of an oblong, narrow, parallelogram, with a per- fectly smooth concave crown. All the molars are fanged and essentially constructed as in the digitigrade or normal carnivora; but, owing to the nearly obsolete development of the cutting processes of their crowns, they bear a character of greater resemblance to the molars of the typical plan- tigrades. The scissor action or true cutting process must in respect to these teeth be limited to the carnivorous ones, and even there be more than matched by the crushing action of one crown on another. The whole of the molars are longer considerably than broad: but they are almost as evidently broader than high. Heretofore it has been remarked that in proportion to the diminished number of the molars is the high development of their sectorial attributes: but in Ursitaxus we have molars less only in number than those of the cats proper, which yet are distinguished for the remark- able flatness of their crowns.* Deeply imbedded in the cellular membrane at the outlet of the pelvis and centrally on either side the large anus, the Ursitaxus has an oblong, spheroidal, hollow gland, which communicates, by a distinct tubular canal, with a round pore opening on the caudal margin of the anus. Each gland is 14 inch long and ? wide, being large enough to contain a walnut; and each has its own canal and itsown pore. These pores or anal orifices of the glands are about } of an inch apart. The ducts uniting them with the glands take a superior direction to open at the upper margin of the anus, * I make due allowance for detrition by use owing to the age of my specimen: but there still remains a remarkable flatness of crown in the molars, greatly exceeding that of the semi- frugivorous Paradoxuri for example. Such teeth, being only sixteen in total number, of which but two are tuberculous, constitute surely a singular and unique type amongst the Carnivora. 68 INDICATION OF A NEW GENUS OF CARNIVORA. under the tail; and they exhibit at either end a muscular ring. The walls of the glands are about % inch thick, and purely glandular ; and their lining membrane lies closely in contact with the walls and is secretory throughout. But no pores can be traced on this lining for exuding the secretion which yet is contained in the cavity of the glands whence it passes by the tubes and anal pores into the rectum. The secretion found in the dead subject was dark, thick, and very feetid. Nepal, February , 1836. URSITAXUS INAURTII US, nobis Cype of Che new genus Ulrsitase , nobis Nay Mare Sumg cel T Black lth WA. NOTE ON THE MURLNORY NCHUS:..G.RIS- EU S: By J. T. PEARSON, Esquire, Assistant Surgeon, Curator Mus, As. Soc. Class—Aves.