OCR Text |
Show 142 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ^ELUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, in profile, it differs from the skulls of the varieties F. borealis, F. canadensis, F. rufa, and F. maculata in that the part between the orbits is more raised and convex, and the nasal bones extend backwards beyond the nasal processes of the maxillae. Considering the length of time during which we have had power in India, it is remarkable that our collection of Indian Cats should be so imperfect as it is. I am, however, not without the hope of being hereafter able to exhibit here a new collection of the skins and crania of these animals. The species known as F. bengalensis especially requires investigation, as, if its range of variation both in size and markings is not very extensive, several distinct species must be included under that name. Amongst African Cats that described by Lesson x under the name F. senegalensis was probably but a young Serval. There is unfortunately no specimen of it in the Paris Museum ; and the type was a cat living at the hospital of Rochefort-sur-Mer. W e have as yet, so far as I know, no specimen of F. colocollo in this country; and we much need more skins and skulls from America to help us to determine the value of the forms distinguished as F. tigrina, F. mitis, and F. macroura. The second iEluroid family, the Viverrida, presents a great contrast to the first in tbe great variety of the forms it contains. Instead of being unable to divide it into subfamilies, the difficulty is to avoid making too many. Two subfamilies, Viverrina and Herpes-tina, must, I think, be instituted for the Viverrine and Herpestine sections of the group. In the former must stand Viverra, Viverricula, Fossa, Genetta, Prionodon, Poiana, Paradoxurus, Arctogale, and Hemigalea. In the latter I would place Herpestes, Helogale, Cynictis, Bdeogale, Rhinogale, Crossarchus, and Suricata. As to Nandinia, Arctictis, and Cynogale, arguments are by no means wanting in favour of the erection of each of these three genera into a distinct subfamily. I hesitate, however, so far to multiply groups of that rank ; and I would retain them all, at least provisionally, amongst the Viverrince. The genera of this subfamily seem to group themselves in two sets (as was indicated by M r . Turner'), one set being that of the Civets, the other that of the Paradoxures, as follows :- A. Viverra, Viverricula, Fossa, Genetta, Prionodon, and Poiana. B. Paradoxurus, Arctogale, Arctictis, Hemigalea, Nandinia, and Cynogale. The subfamily Herpestina seems divisible into two sets-one (A) including Herpestes, Helogale, and Cynictis; while the second set (B) will comprise Crossarchus and Suricata. I cannot certainly determine to which set Bdeogale and Rhinogale should belong till more of their anatomy is known. It is to the latter set that I regard the Hyanida as specially allied, while Cryptoprocta (in spite of its claws and dentition) seems 1 Guerin's Mag. de Zool. 1839, t. x. (Mammiferes). 2 P. Z. S. 1848, p. 87. |