404 CR YPTOPROCTA 



native of Madagascar, where all the most peciiliai- Viverridae 

 live. 



Sub-Fam. 2. Galidictiinae. — Mivart has placed in tliis suIj- 

 faniily the three Mascarene genera, Galidia, Hem i gal id in, and 

 Galidictis. In them tlie orbit is not enclosed by l:)one ; there is 

 no alisphenoid canal, and tliere are five toes and fingers. 



Galidia consists of but one species, G. elegans, of a chestnut 

 brown colour, with a tail ringed with black. The claws are not 

 retractile. The scent gland is absent. There are five digits 

 upon both hand and foot. There are three premolars and two 

 molars on each side of each jaw. Tlie caecum is (for an Aeluroid) 

 long, and pointed at the apex ; it is quite twice the length of that 

 of Genetta. 



Closely allied to Galidia is tlie genus Hemigalidia, of which 

 there are two species. It is distinguislied from the last genus by 

 the non-annulated tail. It also differs in tlie dental fornmla, 

 which is for the molars Pm j| M j . This animal is termed by 

 Buffon the Yansire. He correctly enumerates its grinders, and 

 distinguishes it from tlie Ferret ! 



Galidictis is a third ^enus from Madagascar containing^ 

 two species, one of which has been unfortunately named G. 

 vittata, leading perhaps to some confusion with tlie totally 

 distinct Galictis vittata. As in the last two genera the digits 

 are five. The dental formula is that of Galidia. It is dis- 

 tinguished from tlie other two genera of its sub-family liy the 

 longitudinal Ijrown striping of the upper part of tlie greyish 

 body. 



Sub-Fam. 3. Cryptoproctinae. — Crt/ptojn'octa ^ represents a 

 special sul)-family, Cryptoproctinae, and includes only a single 

 species, the Fossa (C. fero.r) of Madagascar. It is the largest 

 Carnivore of Madagascar, being about twice tlie size of a Cat, 

 but with an elongated body ; the colour is a tawny brown 

 with no striping. The animal is active and lithe in its 

 motions, and is said to be of almost unexampled ferocity in 

 disposition. Its exact systematic position lias lieen much dis- 

 cussed. By Zittel it is placed in a sub-faniily (including tlie 

 extinct Froaelurus and Pseudaelurus) of tlie Felidae. Mivart 

 and Lydekker, on tlie other hand, regard it as a genus of the 

 Viverridae. The dental formula of the molars, Pm j| M }-, is 



1 Beddard in Proc. Zoo?. Soc. 1895,, p. 4-30. 



