CARNARIA. 67 



odour is diffused from it that is very perceptible. In the light the pupil forms 

 a vertical fissure, and the nails are completely retractile, as in the cat. 



f r . genetta, Lin. (The Common Genet.) Grey spotted with brown or 

 black, the muzzle blackish ; white spots on the eyebrows, cheeks, and each 

 side of the end of the nose ; tail the length of the body, annulated with black 

 and white, the black rings being I'rom nine to eleven in number. Found from 

 the south of France to the Cape of Good Hope; frequents the edges of brooks, 

 near springs, c. The skin forms an inportant article of trade. 



PARADOXCRUS, Fr. Cuvier, 



Has the teeth and most of the characters of the Genets, with which it was 

 a long time confounded ; it is, however, more stout-limbed ; the feet are semi- 

 palmate, and the walk nearly plantigrade ; but what particularly distinguishes 

 it is the spiral inclination of the tail, which is not prehensile. Only one 

 species is known, the 



P. typus, Fr. Cuv. (The Pougoune' of India.) A yellowish-brown, with 

 some spots of a deeper brown than the rest ; the feet, muzzle, and part of the 

 tail blackish ; eye-brows white, and a white spot under the eye. The other 

 species are V. linsang, Hardwick; V. fossa, Buffon; V. rasse, Horsfield. 



MANGUSTA, Cuvier HERPESTES, Illiger. 



The pouch is voluminous and simple. The hairs are annulated with light 

 and obscure tints, which determine their general colour on the eye. 



The Mangouste of Egypt, so celebrated among the ancients under the name 

 of Ichneumon, is grey, with a long tail terminated with a black tuft; it is 

 larger than our cat, and as slender as a marten. It chiefly hunts for the eggs 

 of the crocodile, but also feeds on all sorts of small animals ; brought up in 

 houses, it hunts mice, reptiles, &c. By the Europeans at Cairo it is called 

 Pharaoh's Rat ; by the natives, Nems. The ancient tradition of its jumping 

 down the throat of the crocodile to destroy it, is entirely fabulous. There are 

 several other species mentioned, but it is difficult to establish a specific dis- 

 tinction. 



RYZSNA, Itliger. 



The Surikates have a strong resemblance to the Mangoustes, even to the 

 tints and transverse streaks of the hair ; but are distinguished from them and 

 from all the Carnivora of which we have hitherto spoken, by having only four 

 toes to each foot. They also are higher on their legs, and they have not the 

 small molar immediately behind the canine tooth. 



One species only is known, a native of Africa ( Viv. tetradactyla, Gm.), a 

 little less than the Mangouste of India. 



CROSSARCHUS, Fred. Cuvier, 



Has the muzzle, teeth, pouch, and walk of the Surikates, and the toes of 

 die Mangoustes. 



