528 



CARNIVORA 



that its right to generic distinction seems doubtful. There is, 

 however, no scent-pouch. The limbs are slender ; and there are 

 two small bare spots on the sole of the hind foot, above the 

 plantar pads. There is no dark line along the back ; the throat 

 gorget of Viveftra is absent ; and in the tail the spots only tend to 

 form rings, Avhich are not complete. The skull has an alisphenoid 

 canal, and a large bulla as in the typical group of Viverra. 



Genetta. 1 The Genettes are smaller animals, with more elon- 

 gated and slender bodies, and shorter limbs than the Civets. Skull 

 elongated and narrow. Auditory bulla large, elongated, rounded 



FIG. 233. The Common Genet (Genetta vulgaris). 



at both ends. Teeth compressed and sharp pointed. The inner 

 side of the third upper premolar has a tubercle not present in the 

 previous genus, and the talon of the lower carnassial is larger. 

 Pupil contracting to a linear aperture. Tail long, slender. Fur short 

 and soft, spotted or cloudy. Under side of the tarso-metatarsus 

 with a narrow longitudinal bald streak. No pouch for storing the 

 secretion of the scent -gland. G. vulgaris, the common Genet 

 (Fig. 233), is found in France south of the river Loire, Spain, 

 South -Western Asia, and Africa from Barbary to the Cape. 

 G. felina, senegalensis, tigrina, and pardalis are other named species, 

 all African in habitat. 



A few details (taken from Professor Mivart's memoirs on the 



1 Cuvier, Regne- Animal, vol. i. p. 156 (1817). 



