1221 



VIVERRID.-E. 



VIVERRID^E. 



1232 



Ryzmia, 111. Feet rather long ; toes four, armed with robust but 

 not retractile claws proper for burrowing. Tongue furnished with 

 horny papillae. Ears small. Pouch leading into the anus. Tail long, 

 slender, and pointed. 



Dental Formula : Incisors, _ ; Canines, ; Molars, =36. 



6 11 5 5 



Teetb of Ryzana, (F. Cuvier.) 



This genus resembles the Ichneumons in the tinting and stripes of 

 the coat ; but the legs are longer, and there are only four toes on each 

 foot. The dentition too differs, for they are without the small molar 

 immediately behind the canine. 



R. Capentii, the Suricate, is about four feet long, including the tail. 

 Fur a mixture of brown, white, yellowish, and black. The colour of 

 the hair is brown at the bottom, black near the tips, and hoary at the 

 points ; those on the back undulated ; inside of the legs yellowish- 

 brown ; tail tufted with black. It is found in Africa, and the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



At the Cape, Pennant states that this species is called Meer-Rat. In 

 habits and manner it is said to resemble the Mangoustes, and its urine 

 is very fetid. It feeds on flesh, preys on mice, and is a great enemy 

 to Blattce. 



Soricate (Ry*ana Capenrii). 



Crouarchut F. Cur. Head more rounded than that of the Ichneu- 

 mons, and the muzzle larger. The pupil round. The muzzle move- 

 able. The ears small, round, and bilobat*. The tongue smooth on 

 its edge*, but papillose and horny at the centre. The tail flattened. 

 Five toe on each foot. Pouch secreting an unctuous fetid matter. 



C. obtcunu is nearly two feet long, including the tail, which is about 

 eight inches. Fur consisting of two kindi of hair ; the external rather 



harsh and of a uniform brown, a little brighter on the head, cheeks 

 pale. It is a native of the coast of Africa and Sierra-Leone. It feeds 

 on flesh, and is cleanly and well-behaved in confinement. 





Crossarchuf obacurits. 



Cryptoprocta, Bennett. This genus approaches more nearly than 

 most of the other forms of this family to the Pelidic, having the 

 claws on both feet truly retractile, and furnished with the retractile 

 ligaments ; those of the anterior limbs being also acute, both at their 

 points and edges. 



Body slender, limbs robust and of moderate length ; head narrow 

 and slightly elongated ; glandular muzzle small ; nostrils with a deep 

 lateral sinus ; whiskers numerous and stiff, the longest exceeding the 

 head in length ; eyes rather small, placed above the angle of the 

 mouth, the opening of which is not much prolonged backwards ; ears 

 unusually large, rounded, with a fold on the posterior margin and one 

 or two sinuosities within, hairy both within and without, except in the 

 auditory passage ; neck slender ; anterior limbs somewhat shorter than 

 the posterior; tail (which appeared to be mutilated at the extremity) 

 as long as the body, reaching, when retroverted, to between the ears, 

 cylindrical, and uniformly hairy ; soles of anterior feet naked to tho 

 whole extent of the carpus ; of the posterior, nearly to the heel ; claws 

 retractile, five on each foot ; on the anterior, sharp-pointed and edged, 

 compressed, curved, short, and cat-like; on the posterior, rather larger, 

 compressed, less curved, and obtuse. The toes united nearly to the 

 tips ; on the fore feet the middle the longest ; those on each side 

 scarcely shorter and nearly equal to each other; innermost and outer- 

 most also nearly equal to each other, but still shorter than the adjoin- 

 ing ones : on the posterior feet, third and fourth toes nearly equal and 

 rather longer than the second and fifth ; thumb considerably shorter. 



C. ferox is a natire of Madagascar. 



\ 



Cryptoprocla ferox. 



Nasua, Storr. Feet pentadactyle, furnished with sharp claws. Ta 

 long, pointed, not prehensile. Nose very much elongated, and very 

 moveable. No anal follicles. Six ventral teats. 



Dental' Formula : Incisors, _. 

 6 



Canines, 



11 



1-1 ! 



Molars, -^-=4 

 60 



