THE ICHNEUMONS. 233 



GENUS CYNOGALE. 



Another genus of only one species. 



The Mampalon, Cynogalc Bcnncttii, has a thick compact body, a long 

 head, pointed muzzle, very short tail and legs, and is remarkable for a 

 strong beard of long yellowish-white bristles, behind and above which 

 there are brown bristles, while the cheeks are adorned with two bundles 

 of long, strong, whitish hairs. The animal is plantigrade, but can climb 

 trees. It is a native of Borneo and Sumatra, and lives on fish, birds and 

 fruits. 



GENUS GALIDICTIS. 



Madagascar furnishes the tivo species which constitute this genus. 

 Little is known of either, except the account furnished by Dr. Gray in 

 the Zoological Transactions of London. 



The Galidictis Vittata is gray, with eight black-brown streaks on the 

 back and sides, and attains the length of fourteen inches, with a tail of 

 twelve inches. This animal is remarkably agile, keeping its long bushy 

 tail erect as it runs about, and uttering a chirp like a rat. One that was 

 kept on board ship for six months soon became tame, and preferred raw 

 eggs for food. Its method of breaking them was amusing: it would roll 

 one toward a projecting timber, then lying down on its side, it grasped 

 the egg with all its feet and threw it with a sudden jerk, repeating the 

 process till the contents were obtained. 



THE ICHNEUMONS. 



Under the popular name of Ichneumon, numerous genera are em- 

 braced. The word Ichneumon is Greek, and signifies the " tracker," 

 from the fact that the best representatives of the group display remark- 

 able patience and skill in tracking their prey to its hiding-place. 



GENUS HERPESTES. 



This is a well-defined genus containing twenty-two species, of which 

 we need mention only two or three. In this genus the pouch is volu- 

 minous, and single instead of double. 

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