292 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



III. GENUS HERPESTES {suprh, p. 244). 



Remains of Carnivores which have been referred to this genus 

 occur in the Miocene and Upper Eocene (Oligocene) strata of 

 Europe ; but many of these present characters intermediate 

 between the existing members of the genus and Viverra^ so 

 that it is frequently impossible to say to which of the two they 

 should be assigned. For instance, the above-mentioned 

 Viverra minima has been referred by one writer to Herpestes^ 

 while some specimens referable to H. lemanensis have been 

 described as Viverra. It would thus appear that the two 

 genera had a common origin ; and it may be added that 

 through an extinct Miocene and Upper Eocene genus known 

 as Cynodictis they both seem intimately connected with the an- 

 cestors of the modern Dogs and Foxes (Canidce). 



One of the best known species is the large Herpestes leman- 

 ensis from the Lower Miocene deposits of the south of France, 

 with which the so-called Viverra antiqua, and perhaps H. 

 priscus, as well as a German form, appear to be identical. The 

 skull is stated to approximate to Viverra in possessing an ali- 

 sphenoid canal. A second Lower Miocene species (H. primaz- 

 vus) is distinguished by the great relative length of the last lower 

 pre-molar tooth, while in the Middle Miocene beds of Grive- 

 St.-Alban, France, the genus is represented by yet another 

 species known as Herpestes crassus. 



IV. GENUS PROGENETTA, 



Progenetta^ Deperet, Archiv. Mus. Lyon, vol. v. p. 34 (1892). 

 This genus is represented only by a single species (P. in- 

 certa) of the size of a small Leopard from the Middle Miocene 

 deposits of France, and is chiefly distinguished by details in 

 the structure of the teeth, into the consideration of which it 

 would be quite out of place to enter in a work of the present 

 nature. 



