2^2 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



veloped), Ihe less backward prolongation of the palate, and the 

 presence of a naked glandular area in front of the scrotum of 

 the males, and in a similar position in the females. In com- 

 mon with Arctogak, they have the whole of the metatarsus 

 and the greater portion of the tarsus naked, the hair extending 

 across the hinder portion of the heel in an evenly-curved line. 

 The claws of the five-toed feet are as much curved and as 

 highly retractile as in the Genets, and in the greater number 

 of cases the long tail is not ringed, while the markings take 

 the form of longitudinal streaks, or more rarely spots, a few 

 species being uniformly coloured. The pupil of the eye is in 

 the form of a vertical slit. 



The teeth are numerically the same as in Viverra, but vary 

 considerably in shape in the different species ; and only in a 

 few forms does the bony palate extend much 1 ehind the line 

 of the last molar teeth. Although the tail is not endowed 

 with the power of prehension, it can be curled up to a greater or 

 less extent, and in captive specimens this condition is apt to 

 become chronic. In size the majority of the Palm-Civets may 

 be compared to ordinary Cats. 



The genus is an exclusively Oriental one, ranging from 

 India as far eastwards as the Philippine Islands, and embracing 

 a large number of spec: . 



On account of their purely nocturnal habits, the Palm- 

 Civets are but seldom seen, although on one occasion the 

 present writer was fortunate enough to detect an individual of 

 the Common Indian species moving about in broad daylight 

 among the leaves of a palm-tree in a garden in the suburbs 

 of Calcutta. They are all thoroughly arboreal, and adepts 

 at climbing; and their food comprises fruits as well as the 

 flesh of animals. 



Many of the species have an alarmingly long list of s\no 

 nyms. 



