22 
induce me to regard it as a second species of that genus. I may 
remark that it agrees with all the characters assigned to that genus 
by M. Isidore Geoffroy, except that the soles of the hind-feet are 
more naked than he described those of his genus Galidia to be, 
though he observes that Galidictis has the feet “‘ presque entiérement 
semblable” to that genus; for the naked part is nearly as broad as 
the foot, almost to the top of the heel. The chief difference between 
the Museum specimen and that described and figured by the two 
Geoffroys and Cuvier is in the colour of the tail, and I might think 
this depended on age, if the elder Geoffroy and Cuvier did not 
describe the young animal as being of the size of a weasel, and the 
younger Geoffroy the adult as having the same peculiarity, viz. a 
white tail; while our specimen has the tail the same colour as the 
back, and even more distinctly variegated with black and white. 
The stripes are narrower, rather differently placed, and more equal in 
width than in the description and figure above quoted, and they do 
not extend so far up the neck towards the head. I propose to de- 
signate the species 
GALIDICTIS VITTATA. 
Grey, black and white grizzled ; back and sides eight nearly equal, 
parallel, narrow, black-brown streaks ; chin and beneath pale brown ; 
hind-feet and outer sides of fore-legs reddish brown. Tail subcylin- 
drical, bushy, black and grey grizzled, white towards the ends; hairs 
elongate, brownish white, with two (rarely three) broad black rings. 
Hab. Madagascar. British Museum. 
Length of body and head (when stuffed) 14 inches ; tail 12 inches. 
The skull, which shows that the animal was not quite full-grown, 
agrees in all the particulars with that figured by M. I. Geoffroy, 
t.19, but is about one-fourth smaller in all its parts, and it has one 
more very small roundish false grinder on each side in front of the 
other (between it and the canines) in the upper jaw, which is not 
noticed in M. Geoffroy’s figure nor description, and which probably 
falls out when the animal arrives at adult age. 
Dr. T. R. H. Thomson, Surgeon R.N., who had one of these 
animals for six months on board ship, says it was procured at Tulyah 
Bay, Madagascar. It was at first extremely timid, but soon became 
tame and acquainted with the different parts of the vessel, and very 
partial to those who bestowed any attentions on it. It was remark- 
ably agile, keeping its long bushy tail somewhat erect in running 
about, and uttering a sort of chirp not unlike a rat. Its chief food 
was uncooked meat, but it preferred raw eggs above all other articles 
when they could be procured. Its method of breaking them was not 
a little amusing : on receiving one it would roll it towards a project- 
ing timber or gun-slide; then, lying down on its side, the little 
creature would grasp the egg with all its feet and throw it by a 
sudden jerk, repeating the attempt until the contents were obtained. 
Turtles’ eggs being so soft and rich were always eagerly sought by 
it. It was very irascible while feeding, and would attack those who 
interfered with it at such a time, although at others it delighted in 
being fondled, and would play like a kitten with those it knew. The 
i 
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