MUNGOOSES. 465 



under consideration, so the cynogale (for which there is no English name) presents 

 us with a form adapted specially for a partially aquatic mode of life. 



This animal (Cynogale bennetti) is another inhabitant of the eastern part of the 

 Oriental region, where the civet tribe attains its greatest and most peculiar develop- 

 ment, being found in the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. 

 In appearance the cynogale somewhat resembles a small otter, the muzzle being 

 very broad and furnished with thick bristles, while the body is shorter and stouter 

 than in other members of the family, and the tail unusually short, its total length 

 being only some 6 inches, while that of the head and body is upwards of 24 inches. 

 The toes of the feet are webbed at their bases, and are further remarkable for their 

 shortness. The teeth are the same in number as those of the palm-civets, but the 

 premolars have unusually tall crowns, apparently adapted for holding and biting 

 the fish, upon which it largely subsists. 



According to Mr. Wallace, this animal is exceedingly rare in Borneo. Not 

 only does it swim well and readily, but it is also said to be a ready climber. In 

 addition to fish, crabs, etc., which form a considerable proportion of its diet, it 

 is also reported to eat the flesh of such land animals as it can catch, and 

 likewise various fruits. 



THE MUNGOOSES. 

 Genus Herpestes, etc. 



Of late years the time-honoured name ichneumon, applied to the Egyptian 

 representative of the group of civet-like animals, into the consideration of which 

 we now enter, has been very generally rejected by zoological writers in favour of 

 the term mungoose, the native Indian name for the Oriental species. 



Using, then, the latter term, the mungooses form a well-defined group of small 

 civet-like animals, with very long and generally uniformly-coloured bodies and 

 tails, which differ in several important characteristics from the members of the 

 family hitherto noticed. A large number of the mungooses are included in the 

 typical genus Herpestes, of w T hich the range includes not only the African, but 

 also the Indian and Malayan regions ; and of which one species is found in Spain. 

 The other mungooses come from Africa, which may thus be regarded as the head- 

 quarters of the group. 



The mungooses differ from the members of the civet family yet described by 

 several important modifications in the structure of the skull, into the consideration 

 of which it would be impossible to enter in the present work. It may be observed, 

 however, that the socket of the eye (orbit) is very frequently surrounded by 

 a complete bony ring, while in all the forms hitherto noticed it is widely open 

 behind; and that the teeth are always relatively tall, with sharp cusps adapted 

 for a thoroughly carnivorous diet. Mungooses may be distinguished at a glance 

 by their long straight claws, which are incapable of retraction, and are, therefore, 

 always protruded, like those of a dog; and no mungoose ever has scent-glands 

 comparable to those so generally present among the true civets and palm-civets. 



So important are these differences that zoologists now divide the civet tribe 



VOL. i. 30 



