232 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 
veloped), the less backwar@prolongation of the palate, and the 
presence of a naked glandular area in front of the scrotum of 
the males, and in a similar position in the females. In com- 
mon with Arctogale, they have the whole of the metatarsus 
and the greater portion of the tarsus naked, the hair extending 
across the hinder portion of the heel in an evenly-curved line. 
The claws of the five-toed feet are as much curved and as 
highly retractile as in the Genets, and in the greater number 
of cases the long tail is not ringed, while the markings take 
the form of longitudinal streaks, or more rarely spots, a few 
species being uniformly coloured. ‘The pupil of the eye is in 
the form of a vertical slit. 
The teeth are numerically the same as in Viverra, but vary 
considerably in shape in the different species; and only in a 
few forms does the bony palate extend much Lehind the line 
of the last molar teeth. Although the tail is not endowed 
with the power of prehension, it can be curled up to a greater or 
less extent, and in captive specimens this condition is apt to 
become chronic. In size the majority of the Palm-Civets may 
be compared to ordinary Cats. 
The genus is an exclusively Oriental one, ranging from 
India as far eastwards as the Philippine Islands, and embracing 
a large number of species. 
On account of their purely nocturnal habits, the Palm- 
Civets are but seldom seen, although on one occasion the 
present writer was fortunate enough to detect an individual of 
the Common Indian species moving about in broad daylight 
among the leaves of a palm-tree in a garden in the suburbs 
of Calcutta. They are all thoroughly arboreal, and adepts 
at climbing; and their food comprises fruits as well as the 
flesh of animals. 
Many of the species have an alarmingly long list of syno- 
nyms. 
