HEKPESTID.E. 



143 



Length of skull (rather imperfect) 



nose 



zygoma and orbits 



palate 



Width of brain-case over ears 



nose at front of orbit 



Length of tooth-line of canine and grinders . . 

 lower jaw 



WE 

 o 



in. 1. 

 ?2 10 



10 



1 5 

 1 4 

 1 2i 

 8 



9^ 



1 9 



in. 1. 



3 



1 



1 3 



8i 



1 

 1 lOi 



3 1^ 

 1 Oi 



8i 



1 I 



2 



W3 



in. 1. 

 2 11 

 1 



11 



1 lOi 



Fam. 8. HERPESTID^. 



Tubercular grinders two on each side in the upper, and one in 

 the under jaw. Nose flat and bald, beneath with a central longi- 

 tudinal groove. The hind feet slender ; underside bald, or more or 

 less covered with scattered hairs. The toes slender, free, com- 

 pressed, straight, slightly hairy ; the claws exserted, exposed, blunt 

 at the end. The body elongate ; legs generally short. The fur is 

 generally harsh, grizzled. The back is not crested. The tail conical 

 or cylindrical, hairy, not dark -ringed. The anal pouches shallow, 

 or not present. The orbit of the skull complete, or only slightly 

 imperfect on the hinder edge. 



Viverridse (Cynopoda, or Dog-footed Viverridae), Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, 



p. 546, 

 Herpesteacea, Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 647. 



Tribe 1. Herpestina. 

 drical. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 Head elongate, conical ; tail conical or c^-lin- 



* Front claws elomjate, compressed ; back streaked. 



1 . Galidictis. Toes 5 . 5. Tail subcylindrical, covered with long 



hair. Back striped. 



•• The front claws short, compressed ; back grizzled ; flesh-tooth long, 

 narroiv. 



2. Heepestes. Toes 5 . 5. Tail conical, with long hair. Teeth 



moderate. 



3. Athylax. Toes 5 . 5. Tail conical, with long hair. Teeth 



very large. 



4. Calogale. Toes 5 . 5. Tail cylindrical, elongate, covered with 



shortish hairs ; tip pencilled. 



