THE RASSE. 215 



Viverra pallida. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 63. 

 Viverricula indica, Hodgson, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. x. 



p. 909 (1841). 

 Viverricula malaccensis. Cantor, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. 



xv. p. 199 (1846); Blanfordj Mamm. Brit. India, p. 100 



(1888). 

 Viverra schlegeli, Pollen, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierkunde, vol. iii. 



p. 78(1866); Flower, Cat. Osteol. Mus. Coll. Surg. pt. ii. 



p. 97 (1884). 

 Characters. — Size small. Distinguished from all the preced- 

 ing species by the absence of an erectile crest of elongated 

 hairs down the back, and also the general want of an alisphenoid 

 canal in the skull. The nails are also sharper and curved, 

 and the first toe in each foot shorter and more separated from 

 the others, while the muzzle is more pointed, and the whole 

 build of the animal lighter. On account of these comparatively 

 unimportant points of difference, the species is frequently 

 referred to a distinct genus. 



General colour varying from brownish-grey to pale yellowish- 

 brown, usually with several longitudinal black or dark brown 

 stripes down the back, and longitudinally-arranged rows of 

 spots on the sides of the body, but such markings, in some 

 cases, are very indistinct, and the dorsal stripes even wanting. 

 Markings on neck somewhat variable ; but generally two dark 

 stripes from behind the ears to the shoulders, and frequently 

 a third in front, crossing the throat ; a dusky mark behind the 

 ear, and another in front of the eyes ; feet brown or black ; tail 

 with complete black and whitish rings, numbering from seven 

 to nine pairs. Length of head and body, from 21 to 23 inches ; 

 of tail, inclusive of the hair at the tip, from 15 to 17 inches. 



Distribution. — Socotra, Comoro Islands, Madagascar, Ceylon, 

 India, Assam, Burma, Malay Peninsula, Java, Southern China, 

 Hainan, and Formosa. With the possible exception of the 



