Mr. K. T. Pocock on the Genus Poiana. 345 



from that of the Viverrines, the absence of the gland and the 

 proximity of the vulva to the amis, both being characters in 

 which Linmng resembles the Felidae and differs from the 

 Viveninse. Mivart unfortunately failed to note the position 

 of the prepuce with regard to the scrotum in the male he 

 examined. I suspect, however, that resemblance will be 

 found between the Jfelida? and Linsang in this respect also. 



In view of the constancy of the occurrence and the high 

 degree of development of the scent-glands in the ViverrinEe 

 it seems to me to be impossible to maintain that Linsang is 

 nearly related to any genus of that group. Nor does it seem 

 to me to be reasonable to suppose that the ancestors of 

 Linsang possessed the gland. A specialised organ of that 

 kind would not, it may be supposed, abort without some 

 radical change in mode of life, depriving it of its usefulness. 

 But, so far as can be judged from their teeth, feet, pattern, 

 and other external features, the Linsangs do not differ 

 in habits from Genetta or Viverra *. 



The Genus Poiana. 



On structural grounds, cranial, dental, pedal, etc. the 

 genus Poiana, restricted to the tropical forest-reoion of 

 Africa, is always, and unavoidably from available data 

 associated with Linsang. I am not aware, however, that 

 there is any direct evidence that Poianais, without the scent- 

 glands ; and there are no alcohol-preserved examples whereon 

 this character may be observed. The inference as to their 

 absence is provisionally justified; but the uncertainty of its 

 truth must be borne in mind. It' Poiana prove to possess 

 this organ, the genus will, according to my views, take a 

 place in the Viverrime with Genetta, Viverra, and the others. 

 For the time being, however, it may be kept with Linsang. 



The feet of Poiana (PI. XII. figs. 1, 2), judging from 

 dried skins, differ from those of Linsang in one or two parti- 

 culars which recall the feet of Genetta. In the fore foot the 

 carpal lobe (c.) is very manifestly double. Its external 

 moiety is large, long, and fusiform ; its internal moiety i3 

 much smaller, but quite well defined, and is wedged in between 

 the external moiety and the elongated pollical lobe {}>L) of 

 the plantar pad, which anteriorly touches the posterior angle 

 of the internal lateral lobe of the plantar pad. In most of 

 the dried skins the area between the plantar and carpal pads 



* In my paper upon Cynogale (Aim. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) xv. p. 359, 

 1915), I have suggested the possibility of the simple structure of the 

 scent-gland in that genus being attributable to the adoption of an 

 amphibious life and to the modifications in habits thereby enforced. 



Ann. tO Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 8. Vol. xvi. 21 



