External Characters of Gywogvi\e.ht\\nQii\\. 359 



to me that possesses these organs. But whether the simpli- 

 city is to be assigned to degeneration connected with the 

 aberrant habits of the animal, or whether it is to be regarded 

 as primitive and as indicating an early stage in tlie evolutiou 

 of the glands, we shall, perhaps, never know. 



Inferences as to Mode of Life. — The records relating to the 

 mode of life of Cynoyale were summarized by Flower and 

 Lydekker as follows: — ''This is a curious otter-like modifi- 

 cation of the Viverrine type, having semi-aquatic habits, 

 both swimming on the water and climbing trees, living upon 

 fish, Crustacea, small mammals, birds, and fruit.'" This 

 summary may, I think, be amplified by a few inferences, 

 justified by some of the structural features above described. 



The formation of tiie feet, with their naked soles and 

 sharp partially retractile claws, confirms the testimony as 

 to the climbing powers of the animal ; but the shortness 

 of the tail suggests inferiority to the so-called palm-civets 

 (Paradoa-urus, Naadinia), binturong {Arclictis), etc., in scan- 

 sorial skill and activity. On the other hand, as compared 

 with the otters, which, by reason of their long, loosely knit, 

 widely webbed toes, supplied with comparatively weak claws, 

 are but indifferent climbers, Cynogale is probably a slow 

 swimmer, without the faculty of rapid tnrning in the water. 

 These defects in aquatic agility are suggested particularly by 

 the shortness and the absence of special muscular power in 

 the tail, and to a lesser extent by the narrowness of the hind 

 feet and the feeble development of their interdigital webs. 

 The inability of Cynogale to overtake sw'ift-swimming fishes 

 under water may, therefore, be tolerably safely assumed. 



The teeth, especially the premolars, nevertheless, seem 

 clearly to be adapted for seizing and holding slippery 

 wriggling prey of that description, rather than for crushing 

 the hard shells of freshwater crabs or mollnscs, although 

 the molars are doubtless capable of performing that office. 

 Hence it may be supposed that most of the fishes preyed upon 

 are captured after they have taken shelter from the chase 

 under the edge of a submerged rock, in crevices between 

 large stones, or in holes in the banks or the bed of streams. 

 This supposition is borne out by the unusual development 

 of the facial vibrissas, not only upon the upper lip, but upon 

 the cheeks, over the eyes, and underneath the jaw as well. 

 Having watched the retreat of a fish to its place of refuge, 

 Cynoyale, 1 imagine, paddles quietly to the spot to seize its 

 prey while lying low, with its movements hampered in the 

 confined space — a predatory device frequently practised by 

 otters. The thickness of the vibrissse, as in the case of other 



2i* 



