65 



rior more, lobed and tubercular. In the first set, the false molars are 

 thin and compressed, and the second is distinctly three-lobed; this 

 last is replaced by a strong thick conical tooth with a slight raised 

 margin behind, and the third or new false molar is nearly similar, 

 but furnished with a very small tubercle in the middle of the inner 

 side of the base of its crown. The cheek-tooth of the first set is also 

 compressed and has a small lobe in the middle of the inner side j 

 while in the second set this tooth is triangular, broad in front and 

 narrow behind, with a large distinct lobe on the front of its inner 

 margin. It is much larger than the tubercular tooth of the first set 

 which it replaces, and which is little different in form from the first 

 tubercular of the second set, although the latter is also larger and has 

 more prominent and distinct tubercles. 



Mr. Gray observed that it was on this discrepancy between the 

 milk and second teeth that the generic character of Paguma, described 

 by him in the • Proceedings' of the Committee, Part i. p. 95, was 

 founded, he not having at that period noticed the change that takes 

 place on the shedding of the former set. The description there given 

 was taken from a skull belonging to a young animal about to part 

 with its milk-teeth, which still however remained perfect, while the 

 jaw had elongated sufficiently to allow of the partial development of 

 the two tubercular teeth of the new set, which were rendered visible 

 by scraping. In this state the true number of teeth belonging to the 

 family was present, the tubercular tooth of the first set still retaining 

 the place of the cheek-tooth of the second, for which it was described. 

 Subsequently, however, Mr. Gray has been enabled, by cutting away 

 the bone below this tooth, to lay bare the true cheek-tooth, which 

 resembles that of the other species of Paradoxurus, to which genus 

 the animal in question must therefore revert. The explanation of 

 this change is the more interesting inasmuch as the Civets in gene- 

 ral appear to attain nearly their full size previous to its occurrence, 

 and consequently do not offer the usual indications of immature age. 



Mr. Gray then proceeded to enumerate the following species of the 

 genus Paradoxurus, all of them, as far as their habitat has been as- 

 certained, natives of India and the Indian Islands. 



1. Paradoxurus Typus. F. Cuv., Mamm. Lith. 

 Genette de France. Buff., Hist. Nat. Suppl. iii. t.47. 

 Viverra nigra. Desm., Mamm. p. 208* 



This species appears to be the Musk and Musky Weasel of Pen- 

 nant's Quadrupeds, both taken from Sir Elijah Impey's drawings, but 

 not the Piloselle Weasel of the same author, which has. hairy soles. 

 There is a variety now living in the Gardens of the Society, which 

 may be called fuliginosus, it being nearly black in consequence of the 

 length and number of the black hairs, which only show the fulvous 

 under-fur between their roots. It has a very distinct pale spot above, 

 and another beneath, the eye. 



The three following species are only known by the drawings of Dr. 

 Hamilton and Gen. Hardwicke, the former of which were liberally 

 lent to Mr. Gray by Dr. Wilkin and Dr. Horsfield, in order to enable 



