EXTINCT CIVETS AND MUNGOOSES. 29 1 



II. FAMILY VIVERRID.E (supra, p. 206). 



I. GENUS VIVERRA {supn\ p. 210). 



Palceomephitis, Jager, Foss. Saugeth. Wiirtt. p. 78 (1835); 

 Fraas, Fauna Steinheim, p. 9 (1870). 



In the Pleistocene cavern-deposits of Madras, this genus is 

 represented by V. karnuliensis, a species about the size of the 

 existing V. zibetha, but distinguished by the more elongated 

 form of the pre-molar teeth, in which respect it agrees with the 

 following species, and approximates to the under-mentioned 

 Ictitherium. V. bakeri and V. durandi are considerably larger 

 species from the Pliocene rocks of the Siwalik Hills in North- 

 western India. The Pliocene of Perpignan, in France, has 

 yielded remains of another species known as V. pepraxti, 

 while in the Middle Miocene of France and Styria we have 

 respectively V. sansaniensis and V. steinheimensis ; and in the 

 Lower Miocene of the former country V. leptorhyncha. Civets 

 likewise occur in the Upper Eocene (Oligocene) deposits of 

 France and Hampshire; and have been described as V. minima, 

 V. angustidens, V. simp/ia'dens, and V. hastingsicz. The latter, 

 which was of the approximate size of the large Indian Civet, 

 appears to be common to England and France, and is charac- 

 terised by the crowns of the teeth being much taller than in 

 the existing representatives of the genus. 



II. GENUS AMPHICTIS. 

 Amphictis, Pomel, Cat. Method., p. 63 (1853). 

 This genus, as represented by A. antiqua and A. leptorhyncha, 

 from the Lower Miocene and Upper Eocene of France, is 

 nearly allied to the last, from which it may be distinguished 

 by the more elongated form of the last lower molar, which is 

 implanted in the jaw by two distinct roots, and has relatively 

 taller cusps, and a larger posterior heel. 



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