194 



GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. 



[PART iv. 



with man in England, while another, as well as the allied Dinictis, 

 has been found in the Mauvaises Terres of Nebraska, associated 

 with Anchitherium and other extinct and equally remarkable 

 forms, which are certainly Miocene if not, as some geologists 

 think, belonging to the Eocene period. These facts clearly in- 

 dicate that we have as yet made little approach to discovering 

 the epoch when Felidse originated, since the oldest forms yet 

 discovered are typical and highly specialized representatives of 

 a group which is itself the most specialized of the Carnivora. 

 Another genus, Pseudcelurus, is common to the Miocene deposits 

 of Europe and North America. 



FAMILY 24. CRYPTOPKOCTIM}. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Cryptoprocta ferox, a small and graceful cat-like animal, 

 peculiar to Madagascar, was formerly classed among the Viver- 

 ridse, but is now considered by Professor Flower to constitute a 

 distinct family between the Cats and the Civets. 



FAMILY 25. VIVEERID^E. (8-33 Genera, 100; Species.) 

 GENERAL DISTRIBUTION. 



The Viverridae comprise a number of small and moderate-sized 

 carnivorous animals, popularly known as civets, genets, and 

 ichneumons, highly characteristic of the Ethiopian and Oriental 

 regions, several of the genera being common to both. A species 

 of Genetta, and one of Herpestes, inhabit South Europe ; while 

 Viverra extends to the Moluccas, but is doubtfully indigenous. 

 The extreme geographical limits of the family are marked by 



