116 African Zooloyy. 



base of tail twenty-two inclies ; length of tail eighteen inches 

 height at shoulder ten inches, at rump nearly twelve inches. 

 Inhabits South Africa, — rare. 



Obs. This animal stands higher on its limbs than the typical species of 

 the genus, its figure is shorter and more robust, and its teeth exhibit 

 a slight difference in form, and are not so closely set as in the true Ich- 

 neumons. This peculiarity in addition to the state of the soles of the 

 feet, may, -when its manners and habits are better known, require it to bp 

 separated from the present genus. 



Ichneumon Galera. (The Vansire.) Hair short ; woolly 

 hair brown ; bristly hairs brown at their bases, elsewhere nar- 

 rowly annulated black and reddish ; nose sharp pointed ; in- 

 cisors 5, canines \\, molars If, — 38. Length from nose to base 

 of tail thirteen inches ; length of tail nine inches and a half; 

 the trunk only seven inches. 



Inhabits Madagascar. — Guinea? Mauritius, Griffith. 



Mustela Galera, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. 95, Herpestes Galera, 

 Pesm. Mam. 212. Vansire, Buif. xiii. Mangouste Vansire, 

 Geoff. Mem. de V Institut de V Egypte. IMadagascar Weasel, 

 Pennant, ii. Vohangshira of Madagascar. 



Ol)S. Mr. Veneaus is in possession of the skin of a small animal of 

 Madagascar, ■which, when its osteology shall be known, will probably 

 form the type of a genus near to the Genets. It is impossible to arrive at 

 a certainty as to the natural form of the head, but the ears and feet are 

 pretty perfect; the former are about an inch long, rather narrow and 

 pointed ; — the latter have a little resemblance to those of the Ichneumons. 

 The color of the head and neck is a reddish brown, finely and freely 

 pencilled with reddish white, each hair being annulated with that colour. 

 The body, extremities, and tail, deep clear maronne, the latter with four 

 black rings, the last close to the point. Length from nose to base of (ail 

 •eventeen inches ; length of tail eleven inches. 



(jienus Cynictis. Ogilhy. 



Incisors I, canines \\, n<olars %%, — 38. The three anterior 

 molars of each side of both jaws spurious, the fourth carnivorous, 

 the others tubercular. Ears short and rounded ; fore feet with 

 five toes ; hinder ones with four ; nails curved, pointed, and far- 

 rowed beneath ; soles of the feet partly covered with hair; tail 

 very hairy, fattened horizontally. 



Cynictis typicus. (Steadman's Cynictis.) Colour yellowish 

 red, passing to chesnut, darkest along the middle of the hack ; 

 the hairs every where, but particularly those of the upper parts 

 of the head, cheeks, upper and lateral parts of the neck, and 

 the sides annulated with reddish white, the base of each hair 

 blackish: the under and lateral parts of tail, lighter coloured ; 

 tip of tail whitish ; margins of lips, and space below lower jaw, 

 inclined to white \ whiskers black ; eyes brown-red j nails dark 



