OCR Text |
Show 178 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, Journ. Nat. Hist. ii. pl. 13. fig. 2 ; H. villicollis, Madras Journal, 1839, pl. 2. M. Chatin, in vol. xiv. (1874) of the 5th series of the Ann. des Sc. Nat. pp. 79-88, figs. 34-37, describes and figures the anal glands of three species of Herpestes. Horsfield describes the anal pouch of another under the name Mangusta javanica. The pupil contracts so as to present a horizontally extended aperture; at least it does so in living examples examined by me and Mr. Bartlett. In H. uuropunctatus the anus opened most distinctly on the surface of the body, and not into a saccular depression. This fact, and the difference of the teeth in different species, incline me to believe that the genus will hereafter be divided into two or more genera when the structure of all the forms has been thoroughly worked out. The genus Herpestes exhibits tbe characters before enumerated as existing in Viverra, except nos. 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26 (often), 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, and 53. The (to me doubtful) genus Helogale was founded by Gray1, and contains two species, H. parvula, from Natal and other parts of South Africa, and H. undulata from Mozambique. It is a very small, herpestiform animal, with a bald or nearly bald tarsus. Both its cranial and dental characters are those of Herpestes, save that both p^r are wanting, while at the same time ^ - is placed close behind the canine, so that there is no diastema. The length of the head and body is 25", of the tail 13". The genus Cynictis was instituted by Ogilby in 18332, who has figured the skull and external form in the first volume of our 'Transactions.' There is one species which comes from South Africa. It is of a reddish colour with more or less annulated hair and a bushy tail, with a tarsus which seems to be constantly very hairy ; and the metatarsus is also hairy. The animal is herpestiform, but slender, and has no hallux ; and the pollex is very short. The orbits are completely encircled by bone ; and all the cranial and dental characters are like those of Herpestes, save that the infraorbital foramen opens above the interval between -"- aud -"-, and j|-= is rather larger. Its outer internal cusp is more prominent, and sometimes bifurcates at its apex, as it also does in Herpestes albicaudus and probably in some others. The skull (including the basis cranii) of Cynictis is figured by De Blainville, Osteog. (Viverra), pl. 5; the appendicular skeleton on pis. 10 & 11, and its dentition on pl. 12. The length of the head and body is 45"*6, of the tail 30"*4. I can find no record of the anatomy of its soft parts or the condition of the anus ; but the condition of the skins seemed to me to indicate that the anus opens into a depression as in certain species of Herpestes. This suspicion has been confirmed by the examination of a living specimen at our Gardens. Cynictis agrees with Herpestes, save as above indicated. 1 P. Z. S. 1861, p. 308; see also P. Z. S. 1864, p. 570, and Cat. of p. 169. 2 See P. Z. S. 1833, p. 48, and Trans. Z. S. (1835), vol. i. p. 29, pl. 34. |