Notices respecting New Books. i9^ 



vinced me that it cannot be separated from Feline animals, 

 however peculiar in some characters, without violating its 

 natural affinities. 



" Having already stated that the discussion of the characters 

 of the Mangusta javajiica almost insensibly led me to a recon- 

 sideration of those of the Felis gracilis, I can now add, that 

 several of the difficulties which presented themselves, when 

 the first number of these Researches was prepared, in the 

 classification of this animal, from the existence of those cha- 

 racters which rendered it doubtful whether it were a Fclis or a 

 Viverra, have in a great measure been removed by the views to 

 which I have been directed by the Horcc Entomologicce of my 

 learned and highly respected friend W. S. MacLeay, Esq.; in 

 which, from av. admirable extent of observation and research, 

 and with consummate originality, he has explained and illus- 

 trated the various relations of animals. I shall, therefore, 

 agreeably to the direction affiarded to me by this work, con- 

 sider the Feline animals as one series, and the Viverrine animals 

 as another series. That the animals of the former series are " 

 still imperfectly known can clearly be demonstrated. As one , 

 proof, I shall adduce the Felis capensis of Forster. This 

 distinguished naturalist, who was not unacquainted with the 

 characters of Felis and Fiverra, as defined by Limiseus, clearly 

 gives, as a property of the animal described by him, a length- 

 ened head. — Phil. Trans, vol. Ixxi. p. 5. Caput rostro magii 

 acuto qiiam Felis cati. And M. Desmarest, in describing this 

 animal in the Fncyclopedie, offers in a note the following re- 

 mark : — " M. Georges Cuvier, au quel on doit les rapproche- 

 mens que nous adoptons, a lui-meme balance a regarder le 

 chat du Cap, Felis capensis de Forster, comme une vraie ci- 

 vette. Dans son Memoire sur les Fspeces de Chats, il le consi- 

 dere comme une espece voisine du chat serval ; mais dans son 

 dernier ouvrage {Le Regnc Animal), il dit qu'il ne differe pas 

 de la genette." Concerning the Fiverra tigrina of Schreber, 

 which was figured by Vosmaer, it more resembles a Feline than 

 a Viverrine animal. M. Desmarest points out its affinity to 

 the Felis gracilis ; and the name given it by Vosmajr, Chat- 

 hizaam, shows that he considered the characters of the Cat to 

 predominate. The specific character also exhibits a remark- 

 able agreement with our animal in the external marks, at the 

 same time that it clearly indicates a specific distinction. We 

 have thus in the Fclis capensis, and in the Fiverra tigrina 

 Gmel., two animals of the I'dine series, which are analogous 

 to Viverrine animals; and it may reasonably be expected that 

 future discoveries will make known others, which will unite the 

 Felis grarili^ with the Feline animals now known, and thus 



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