]10 VIVEEKID^E. 



black or dark brown. The markings, however, are very variable, 

 and occasionally either the dorsal striping or the pale frontal band 

 is wanting ; but as a rule one or the other is distinct, and serves 

 to distinguish this from the last species. Vibrissae black, the 

 lowest occasionally white near the base. 



Dimensions. About the same as in P. niger. Head and body 20 

 to 25 inches, tail 16 to 20. A male skull from Burma measures 

 3-8 inches in basal length ; 2-45 in zygomatic breadth. 



Fig. 28. Half palate of Paradoxurus hermaphroditits. 

 (P. Z. S. 1885, p. 796.) 



Distribution. Throughout the countries east of the Bay of Bengal 

 Burma, Siain, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. In 

 Lower Bengal and at the base of the Himalayas, in Sikhim and in 

 Assam, many of the Paradoxuri appear to belong to this species 

 or to be intermediate between it and P. niger. 



Habits. Precisely the same as those of P. niger. 



This species has been united to the last by Blyth and Jerdon, 

 and unquestionably the two pass into each other, so that it is 

 a mere question of convenience whether they are called species or 

 races. As a rule the Eastern form is distinguished both by having 

 stripes on the back and a distinct frontal band, and by its larger 

 and differently shaped upper sectorial teeth ; and as the difference 

 is considerable, and each form fairly constant over an immense 

 tract of country, I think it better to use different names for the 

 two. 



53. Paradoxurns aureus. The Ceylonese Palm-Civet. 



Paradoxurus aureus, F. Cuv. Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. ix, p. 48. pi. 4 

 (1822) ; W. Stanford, P. Z. S. 1885, p. 802, pi. 1. 



