EXTINCT CIVETS AND MUNGOOSES. 293 



V. GENUS ICTITHERIUM. 

 Ictitherium, Wagner, Abh. bayer. Acad. vol. v. pt. 2, p. 33 5 (1 848). 

 Galeotherium, Wagner, op. cit. vol. iii. pi. i. (1840), nee Jager. 

 Thallasictis, Gervais (ex Nordmann), Zool. et. Pal. Frang. vol. 



i. p. 120 (1848-50). 

 Palhycena, Gervais, op. cit. 2nd ed. p. 242 (1858). 

 Lepthycena, Lydekker, Pal. Ind. (Mem. Geol. Surv. Ind.), ser. 

 10, vol. ii. p. 312 (1884). 



Having the same number of teeth as in the Civets, this 

 European and Asiatic genus of the Lower Pliocene differs 

 from all the other members of the Family in that the upper 

 carnassial tooth has a three-lobed blade, as in the modern Cats 

 and Hyaenas, one of the species having been regarded as a con- 

 necting link between the Viverridce and Hycenida. The skull 

 is elongated and narrow, with a strong and upwardly-curved 

 postorbital process behind the socket of the eye, the hind-foot 

 is furnished with five toes, and the tail is very long. 



The three species, namely, I. robustum, I. orbignyi, and /. hip- 

 parionum, occurring in the Lower Pliocene deposits of France, 

 Attica, Samos, Hungary, Bessarabia, and Persia, vary in size from 

 that of a Civet to that of a Jackal. The third and largest is the 

 one making the nearest approximation to the Hyaenas, its upper 

 carnassial tooth being greatly elongated, and the molars in the 

 same jaw very small. In the Siwalik rocks of India the genus 

 is represented by the imperfectly known /. sivalense. 



VI. GENUS PALiEOPRIONODON. 

 Palceoprwnodon, Filhol, Comptes Rendus, vol. xc. p. 1579 

 (1880); id., Bull. Soc. Philom. ser. 8, vol. i. p 115 

 (1889). 



This and the following genus appear to form a connecting 

 link between the Civets (Viverridce) and the Weasels (Mus- 

 telidcz\ and are thus placed by some palaeontologists in the 



