MAMMALIA. 487 



by the perfumers. It is less employed since musk has become known. The 

 pupil is round during the daytime: the claws are semi -retractile. The 

 species of this genus and the following are chiefly Asiatic and African ; a 

 few are met with in the south of Europe. 



In the genus Genetta (the genets), the pouch is reduced to a slight 

 depression, scarcely perceptible, although secreting and emitting an odor. 

 In the daytime the pupil forms a vertical fissure ; the nails are completely 

 retractile, as in the cat. 



The genus J^radoxunis, with a general resemblance to t^ genets, has 

 the limbs stouter, and the feet semi-palmated. But what d|pnguishes it 

 more particularly is the tail ; when it is straight, as it is ever carried, it 

 is nevertheless twisted from right to left towards its extremity. Only one 

 species is known, and this inhabits the East Indies. 



The genus Herpestes contains an animal, the Ichneumon^ well known by 

 the ancients, and celebrated in Egypt, where it was considered as sacred, 

 and many fables attached to its history. It hunts chiefly for the eggs of 

 the crocodile, and thus destroys a great many of these reptiles. It feeds 

 also on all sorts of small animals. Other species are found near the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and others in Asia. 



The genus Ryzcena (suricate) is composed of two species from tropical 

 Africa, resembling the ichneumon, but having only four toes to each foot. 



The genus Bassaris includes only one species {B. astuta), from Central 

 America, Mexico, and Texas. In the latter country it is called civet cat. 

 The head is short and pointed ; the ears long and oblong ; the tail as long 

 as the body. The sole of the feet is hairy. 



The family of Viverridre was represented in the tertiary favma by several 

 species belonging to the genera Viverra and Genetta, and one to the genus 

 Herpestes, all of which have inhabited Europe. Other fragments 3'et unde- 

 scribed seem to indicate that this family has existed in the East Indies and 

 New Holland. No living species exist in our days in Australia. 



Fam. 3. Canid^. The snout is elongated and naked. The ears are 

 moderately large, and the tail mostly bushy. The fore feet with five, the 

 hind feet with four retractile claws. They frequently feed on carrion. 

 The dogs, wolves, and foxes belong to this family, of which several species 

 are found in North America. 



The fossil Canidse are numerous, especially those species belonging to the 

 great genus Canis, of which about twenty species have been described. 

 Some of them were undoubtedly wollres and foxes as well as dogs, and 

 inhabited not only the European continent, but also Asia and Brazil. 

 Several extinct genera have been noticed, as follows. 



The genus Speothos is nearly related to the dogs ; the teeth are nearer 

 each other, and the snout less elongated. A single species is known, from 

 the Brazilian caverns. 



The genus Palceocyon, from the same locality, seems to bear greater 

 affinities with the C.jubatus, still living in Brazil, than with any other of 

 the same group. Two species were discovered. 



The genus Hycenodon, with a certain resemblance to Hyasna, is, how- 



691 



