220 THE MALAGASY REGION. [CHAP. 



mogalidce differs from its Ethiopian cousin, not only in its inferior 

 dimensions, but likewise in having but thirty-four in place of forty 

 teeth ; and it is possible that, when more fully known, it will have 

 to be assigned to a family by itself. As stated in a previous 

 chapter 1 , the tenrecs (Centetida) appear to have their nearest allies 

 in the West Indian solenodons, although the relationship is now 

 believed to be somewhat less close than was formerly supposed. 

 The common tenrec ( Centetes), which is the largest member of its 

 order, measuring from a foot to sixteen inches in length, is a tail- 

 less creature, remarkable for the possession of four pairs of upper 

 molar teeth, as in marsupials. Much smaller are the two species 

 of Hemicentetes , which, in addition to differences in the dentition, 

 are distinguished by having rows of spines along the back at all 

 ages, instead of merely in the young condition. The hedgehog- 

 tenrecs, forming the genera Ericulus and Echinops, are small 

 forms having the whole of the back and tail covered with close-set 

 spines. The two other genera are spineless at all ages ; Microgale 

 being readily distinguished by the inordinate length of the tail 

 which is equal to twice that of the head and body, while 

 Oryzorictes has this appendage relatively short. 



The largest, and at the same time one of the most peculiar of 

 the Malagasy carnivores is the fossa ( Cryptoprocta), which, although 

 usually included in the Viverridce, is so different from all other 

 members of that group that it has been regarded as constituting a 

 family by itself, specially characterised by the feline type of denti- 

 tion. On the other hand, Daubenton's civet (Fossa), although 

 representing a genus by itself, has its nearest relative in the widely 

 distributed Oriental rasse ( Viverra malaccensts). The latter species, 

 although now found both in Madagascar and the Comoro group, 

 has in all probability been introduced there. Of the four remain- 

 ing genera, Galidictis, Galidia, and Hemigalidia are more or less 

 closely allied to the mungooses, although presenting certain 

 structural differences from other genera ; but the fourth (Eupleres) 

 is so markedly distinct as to constitute a subfamily by itself. 



The five genera of murine rodents call for but little remark, 

 although it is noteworthy that they are all more or less closely 



1 Supra, p. 70. 



