MAMMALIA 



3^3 



thirty races of cats, grouped into long-haired and short-haired 

 varieties. There is also a Mexican hairless cat. (See p. 524.) 



The civets ( Viveridae) are relatively small animals with incom- 

 pletely retractile claws. From their scent glands, " civet " perfume 

 is secured. 



Fig. 215. Tsavo lions. Both specimens are males, but from an arid region of 

 Africa where manes are lacking. They killed 135 men employed in the construction of 

 the Uganda R. R. (Courtesy of Field Museum of Nat. Hist.) 



The mongoose ^ (mungoos) is found in Egypt where it is called the 

 ichneumon and in East India where it goes by the native name, 

 mungoos. It lives in thickets and in holes among rocks. It is an 

 enemy of snakes, lizards, poultry and rodents and is said to oc- 

 casionally chew the ears of native infants, left sleeping. 



There are three species o( hyenas {Hyenidae). They are found 

 in Europe, Asia and Africa, where they are much despised. They 

 are scavengers. They have a large dog-like head and strong jaws 

 with thirty-four powerful conical teeth. Hyenas are able to kill 

 donkeys, sheep and camels. 



The raccoons {Procyonidae) are plantigrade like the bear family. 

 They are found in the wooded regions of the Southern and Eastern 

 states, especially in swamps. They live in hollow trees and are 



3 In 1872 the mongoose was introduced into Jamaica to destroy the rats infesting 

 the sugar cane. At first beneficial there, it began killing poultry until it proved a 

 distinctly injurious form. Recently it has turned cannibal and relieved the situation. 



