254 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Although normally the animal has no unpleasant odor, it is able 

 to eject an evil-smelling fluid from its anal glands as a defense 

 against such enemies as dogs. 



Family FELIDAE: Cats 



This family is nearly cosmopolitan, but it does not occur natur- 

 ally in Greenland, the eastern Malay Archipelago, or Australasia. 

 Twenty or more genera are recognized by some authorities, and 

 there are probably more than 250 forms. Dr. Allen discusses 12 

 North American forms in the preceding volume (1942), while 27 

 Old World forms are dealt with in the following pages. Man's 

 prejudice against some of the larger members of the cat family 

 (such as Lions, Tigers, Leopards, and Cougars) is linked with his 

 necessary efforts to defend himself or his livestock from their attacks. 



Fossa 



CRYPTOPROCTA FEROX Bennett 



Cryptoprocta jerox Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1833, p. 46, 1833. ("Mada- 

 gascar.") 



FIGS.: Bennett, 1834, pi. 21; Schreber, Saugthiere, suppl. vol. 2, pi. 125CC, 

 1841; Schlegel and Pollen, 1868, pi. 8; Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1895, pi. 

 26; Beddard, 1902, p. 405, fig. 199; Elliot, 1907, p. 397, fig. 43; Kaudern, 

 1915, pi. 3, fig. 2; Sibree, 1915, pi. facing p. 302; Pocock, 1937, p. 760, fig. 



This largest carnivore of Madagascar occurs in limited numbers 

 and will probably require protection if it is to survive in the 

 dwindling forests of that great island. It is an endemic species. 



Since Bennett's type specimen was distinctly immature, the fol- 

 lowing description of an adult male is derived from Schlegel and 

 Pollen (1868, pp. 13-14). Hairs of upper parts ringed with brown 

 and pale reddish yellow; lower parts of head and body uniform 

 reddish yellow, taking on a strong rusty tint toward the middle of 

 the venter. Total length, 56 inches; tail, 26 inches. 



Bennett (1834, p. 140) quotes Charles Telfair as follows: "It is 

 the most savage creature of its size I ever met with: its motions 

 and power and activity were those of a tiger: and it had the 

 same appetites for blood and destruction of animal life." 



Milne Edwards and Grandidier write (1867, p. 317) that it occurs 

 rather commonly on the west coast, from the River Mangouke 

 [Mangoky] northward. Three specimens were secured between 

 Morondava and Manharrive [Maharivo?]. The animal often carries 

 off goats and especially kids. 



This animal is very carnivorous and is endowed with great 

 strength. It is dangerous to man only when wounded or in rut. 

 At other times "it steadily flees from man. At the mating season 



