PARAMYS, Leidy.
"Extinct Vertebrate Fauna of the Western Territories," vol. i.
Hayden's Surveys, p. 109 _et seq_.
This genus of the gnawers is very closely allied to the squirrels and
marmots. Dr. Leidy sums up the generic characteristics of the teeth
thus:
"The four lower molars are proportionately narrower than in squirrels
and marmots, the fore-and-aft exceeding the transverse. The crowns
are short, square, tuberculate, and enamelled.
"The lower jaw is proportionately shorter and deeper than in most
known rodents; the reduction in length being mainly due to a less
development of that part of the bone in advance of the molars.
To compensate for the difference in length, and to make room to
accommodate the incisors, these teeth reach further back than usual.
"The acute edge of the hiatus between the molars and incisors is
almost on a level with the alveoli, of the teeth, instead of forming
a deep concave notch, so conspicuous a feature in the jaws of the
gnawers generally."
_Species known._--
{ Paramys delicatus, Leidy.
Loc. cit. { Paramys delicatior, Leidy.
{ Paramys delicatissimus, Leidy.
Paramys robustus, Marsh.
Am. Journ. Sc. v. iv., p. 218.