DESULTORY SKETCHES IN NATURAL HISTORY. 53 



dan, including Prionodon, Horsf.), and ItVLtrel ( Ci/nogale, Gray; 

 Limictisj Blainville ; PotamophiluSj Kuhl) ; and that of the JMan- 

 goustes or Ichneumons CHerpestidinasJ, consisting of the Man- 

 goustes (Herpestesjt Surikate (RyzcenaJ, and Mangue (Crossar- 

 chusj, of the Regne Animal, with their numerous subsequently 

 proposed divisions, and apparently the Urva of Mr. Hodgson. In 

 these two latter sub-families the body and tail are generally length- 

 ened, and the limbs short : but in the first sub-family, or Hyaena 

 group, the body is never attenuated, but rather the reverse ; the 

 limbs are comparatively elongated, and the tail, which is more or 

 less brushy, seldom reaches to the ground. The head is carried low, 

 and has large or long and pointed ears. There are, in general, 

 only four toes to each foot, but with an internal rudiment in place 

 of a thumb to the anterior, which in one genus (Proteles) is more 

 developed, and even furnished with a claw, as in all the Canidce. 

 The fore-legs are more or less bent or crooked, turning outward at 

 the wrist-joint ; and the hinder brought forward in standing, which 

 lowers the croup. Their figure is accordingly ungainly, and they 

 have a limping gait when unexcited, and particularly when first 

 rising up from repose. The greater number are eminently carrion- 

 feeders, and prefer tainted flesh ; are for the most part nocturnal, 

 passing the day in caverns or burrows, often several together ; some 

 species of them prowling in concert, and all uttering the most dis- 

 mal yells during their night rambles — a characteristic trait, in which 

 they difier remarkably from the other Viverridce (which are parti- 

 cularly silent animals). Their dental characters present extraordi- 

 nary diversities, which, however, are not difficult to comprehend; 

 and the intestinal canal of at least two of the three genera (the soft 

 parts of the other not having been described, so far, at least, as we 

 have been able to ascertain), are exceedingly prolonged, more so 

 than in any other terrene Carnivora, The few living species all 

 inhabit Africa, to which, with one exception, they are peculiar. 

 The most dog-like of them are 



