lHE SMALL-TOOTHED MUNGOOSE. 28 1 



garded as indicating a distinct Sub-family, is distinguished 

 from the typical Herpestina^ as well as from Galidictis and its 

 allies, by the non-eversion of the hinder border of the auditory 

 bulla of the skull, and from all the other members of the 

 Family by its peculiar dentition. The canine teeth are of very 

 small size, and scarcely distinguishable from the first three 

 premolars, which are widely separated from one another in 

 both jaws ; in addition to which the molars are very similar to 

 the pre-molars. So like, indeed, is the whole dentition to that 

 of many of the Insectivora, that the genus was long regarded 

 as pertaining to that Order. The head and skull are very 

 small in proportion to the body; and the muzzle is long, 

 slender, and sharply pointed. The nose and upper lip are 

 medianly grooved ; the five-toed feet are very slender ; and 

 the under surface of the tarsus and metatarsus is covered with 

 short hair ; the claws are long. 



I. THE SMALL-TOOTHED MUNGOOSE. EUPLERES GOUDOTI. 



Eupleres goudotii, Doyere, Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 2, vol. iv. p. 281 

 (1835); Gray, Cat. Carniv. Maram. Brit. Mus. p. 177 

 (1869) ; Mivart, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 189. 



Characters. — Size small ; tail bushy and rather short ; ears 

 large; fur woolly. General colour uniform olive-grey, minutely 

 speckled with yellow, becoming paler on the under-parts. 

 Dark bands across the shoulders in the young. Length of 

 head and body, about 1 2 inches ; of tail, 7 inches. 



Distribution. — Madagascar. 



Habit3. — Beyond the bare statement that it burrows in the 

 ground, nothing definite seems to have been recorded regard- 

 ing the mode of life of this singular and aberrant member of 

 the Viverridce. From its weak jaws, and peculiarly modified 

 teeth, it would, however, seem to be highly probable that its 

 nutriment consists chiefly, if not entirely, of insects or worms. 



