OCR Text |
Show 1885.] GENUS PARADOXURUS. • 789 &c. Mammalia,' published in 1869, appear to me to belong to Paradoxurus stigmaticus of Temminck ; and this I am inclined to agree with Dr. Jentink1 in considering distinct from the original Viverra trivirgata of Reinwardt, and consequently from Dr. Gray's Paradoxurus trivirgatus2 founded on Reinwardt's specimen. The skulls of the two3 differ considerably, that of P. stigmaticus being much longer in proportion, with the palate further produced backwards, and much narrower behind the postorbital processes. Some other differences have been pointed out by Dr. Jentink. But amongst the skins in the British Museum is the type of Paradoxurus leucotis, Blyth, originally described by Horsfield4, and subsequently by Blyth5, whose descriptions agree perfectly well. This skin appears to me to be a pale variety of Temminck's P. stigmaticus, and, if so, Blyth's name, which has priority by two years, must be retained for the species. The skull and mandible figured by Dr. Mivart (P.Z.S. 1882, p. 165, fig. 9) are those of Arctogale leucotis9. The following is the principal synonymy of the two forms referred to Arctogale:- 1. ARCTOGALE TRIVIRGATA. Viverra trivirgata, Reinw. M S. Paradoxurus trivirgatus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 68 ; Temm. Mon. Mam. ii. p. 333, pi. 63. f. 1 ; Miiller, Zoogd. Ind. Arch. p. 55; Wagner, Schreb. Saugeth. ii. p. 346, partim ; Schinz, Syn. M a m m . i. p. 385. partim ; Horsfield, Cat. M a m . Mus. E. I. Co. p. 64, partim ; Giebel, Saugeth. p. 801, partim ; Jentink, Notes Leyd. Mus. vii. p. 35. Length of skull from occipital condyles to alveolar margin of pre-maxillary bones 3*8 inches, palate length 2*1, breadth at junction of upper sectorials with first true molars 1, breadth of brain-case behind postorbital processes 0*75. Hab. Java only. 2. ARCTOGALE LEUCOTIS. Paradoxurus leucotis, Blyth, Horsfield, Cat. Mus. E. I. Co. p. 66 (1851); id. J. A. S. B. xxvii. p. 274 ; id. Cat. Mamm. Mus. A. S. p. 48; id. Cat. Mam. Birds Burma, p. 26 ; Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 544 ; id. Cat. Cam. &c. Mamm. B. M. 1869, p. 76. Paradoxurus stigmaticus, Temm. Esquisses Zool. p. 121 (1853); i Notes Leyd. Mus. vii. p 35. 2 P. Z. S. 1832, p. 68. 3 It should, however, be stated that in neither of the actual type specimens is the skull preserved. 4 Cat. Mamm. Mus. E. I. Co. p. 66. 5 J. A. S. B. xxvii. p. 274. 6 The woodcut of Arctogale. P. Z. S. 1882, p. 164, f. 8, is not a good representation of the animal. The feet are much too heavy, the head too large, and the coloration at all events not typical. A far better figure will be found in the coloured plate, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 681, pi. lxxi., entitled Paradoxurus prehensilis. This appears to me to represent P. leucotis of Blyth, the light-coloured variety of A. stigmatica. The skin and skull of the animal there figured are now, I believe, in the British Museum, where I have examined them. |