4.9 



utrlriSečus ties priorės spurii, quartus carnarius, seąuentes tuber- 

 culaH. . _ 



Pedes digitigradi, digitis 5 — 4, unguibus falculąribus longis fos- 



fioriis. ■ "^^Z ',,' ^ ..',. ! /-V r 'w -^ 



CflMrfa longa, comosa. : m i.: ..■ ..!;( oi.^ M>f ^ 



Genus inter Rt/zeenam et Herp'estem intermed'imti, et dentibus et 

 digitorum numero. 



Cynictis SteedmannI. Cyn.riifus, dorso saturatiore; genis, 

 colio, lateribus cauddque rufis griseo mtermixtis / caitdee apice 

 sordide albo. 



Long. corporis cum capite, 1 ped. 6 unc. 5 caudce, 1 ped. ; capitis, 

 a rostro ad auriculse basin, 2-į- unc. ; atiriculce, į ; auriculce lati- 

 tudo, 14. 



The general colour, as vvell as the whole ekternal appearance of 

 the animal, is that of a small Fox. 



Mr. Ogilby described in detail the generic and specific pecu- 

 liarities, and pointed them out on the pi-eserved skin and on the 

 cranium ; in the latter, as in that of Herpestes, the bony ring sur- 

 rounding the orbit is complete. He added also references to the 

 Travels of Sparrman, for a notice apparently of this animal ; and to 

 those of Mr. Barrovv, (vol. i. p. 185,) in which a brief, but per- 

 fectly intelligible account of it is contained : it is there said to be 

 '* known to the colonists under the general name of Meer-kat." 



Mr. Steedman's specimen was obtained in the neighbourhood of 

 Uitenhage, on the borders of CafFraria. 



Lieut. Col. Sykes exhibited a fcetus of a Panther, preserved in 

 spirit, and exhibiting all the markings of the adult; thus shovving 

 that the animals of this species do not undergo the changes in 

 raarkings in their progress towards maturity which are generally 

 found to occur in the genus Felis. Col. Sykes's chief object in 

 bringing it before the Society, was to call attention to certain sub- 

 cuticular appearances, involving questions on the vascularity and 

 colouring principle of hair, and, by analogy, of feathers also. The 

 body of the fcetus is covered vvith the tawny hair and numerous 

 black rings of the adult, and of an eąually brilliant colour : on the 

 limbs, however, there is not any hair, but where the future spots 

 are to appear there exists a black circle or blotch, indicating an 

 arrangement of the colouring matter, or a textural arrangement for 

 the reflection of this particular colour, at a period antecedent to the 

 access of light. 



In the Paper in which Col. Sykes described these appearances, 

 he considered the growth of hair and of feathers, and the causes of 

 the changes of colour observed in them, quoting largely from va- 

 rious authorities. He also adduced remarks made by himself in 

 supportofthe probability that, although their existence has not yet 

 been demonstrated, these assumed extra-vascular parts are provided 

 with vessels and vvith nerves. His principai arguments were de- 

 duced from the deep attachment of some feathers and ąuills; the 



