30 MR. W. OGILBY’S DESCRIPTION OF CYNICTIS, 
five toes on the fore feet, and four only on the hind, a combination not found in any 
other genus of the Viverra family except the Proteles. The thumb, or inner toe of the 
fore feet, is placed considerably above the line of the other toes, as in the Dogs and 
other completely Digitigrade Quadrupeds, and does not touch the ground when the 
animal stands or walks ; the hind heel is very much elevated, and, as well as the meta- 
tarsus, completely covered with hair, the under part of the toes alone being naked and 
of a black colour. This part of the foot is divided into separate little pads or tubercles ; 
and there is a large one on the inner surface of the fore feet, considerably above the 
others, which does not come in contact with the ground in ordinary progression, but 
which, from its elastic nature, probably serves in this animal, as well as in the Dogs, 
Cats, &c., to break the fall in jumping, and other violent actions. In other respects, 
there is nothing remarkable to be observed about the feet, except that the claws are 
long and moderately curved, very much compressed at the base, but broader towards 
the point, and hollowed or scooped out beneath like a spoon, so as to adapt them 
admirably to the purpose of burrowing beneath the soil. In their entire form and 
structure, the organs of locomotion are thus in most respects perfectly similar to those 
of Herpestes, only that they are more completely digitigrade, in which character, as 
well as in the number of the toes, the Cynictis is more analogous to the Dog than to 
any genus of the Viverra family. 
But it is in the characters of its dental system that this new genus most closely ap- 
proximates to the Civets, and by which its situation in the system of nature is deter- 
mined to be in contiguity with that family. The following formula expresses the number 
and arrangement of the teeth according to the plan followed by M. F. Cuvier in ‘ Les 
Dents des Mammiféres’. 
6 Incisors 
QO SUPETIOL,-<. ae )si0/0 { 2 Canines. 6 False. 
12 Molaro ee teri 2 Carnassiers. 
38 Teeth. | (- 6 Incisors. L4 Tuberculous. 
TS Inferior! <. <:<615) 1 <1 2 Canines. 6 False. 
10 Molars......... { 2 Carnassiers. 
2 Tuberculous, 
The incisors present nothing remarkable. They are small, equal, and arranged in a re- 
gular straight line ; those of the under jaw are in contact with the corresponding canine, 
those of the upper separated from it by a vacant space, which, in the reciprocal position 
ot the jaws, is occupied by the lower canine. The canines themselves are sensibly flat- 
tened on the sides, with an obscure cutting edge behind ; those of the upper jaw are 
nearly straight, those of the lower slightly hooked backwards. The first false molar of 
the upper jaw is very minute, and in contact both with the canine and with the fol- 
lowing false molar: it is a simple, irregularly conical rudiment, with a single root. 
The second is also of a conical form, with a large pointed lobe in the centre, and a small 
rudimentary lobe on each side of it: the third is about the same size as the second, and 
in all respects similar, excepting that it has a large additional lobe on its inner surface, 
