2 3 6 



THE ETHIOPIAN REGION. 



[CHAP. 



however, two genera of the family, each with a single species, now 

 confined to this region ; the first being represented by the Cape 

 hunting-dog {Lycaon pictus], which is a large, somewhat hy?ena-like 

 animal, easily recognised by its spotted coloration and long bushy 

 tail, and distinguished from the other genera by having only four 

 toes on both the fore and hind feet. That the genus is of northern 



FIG. 54. CAPE HUNTING-DOG (Lycaon pictits). 



origin is proved by the occurrence of remains of an extinct species 

 in the Glamorganshire caves. The small Lalande's fox (Otocyon 

 megalotis) of South Africa, in addition to the enormous size of its 

 ears, is peculiar in having four pairs of molar teeth in the lower 

 jaw, and either three or four in the upper. Possibly a fossil species 

 from the Indian Pliocene may be an allied type. 



Passing by the Ursidce. and Procyonidce as unrepresented in 

 this region, we find the Mustelida very poorly developed, martens 

 (Mustela) being absent, and true weasels very scarce. The striped 

 Gape weasel (Poedlogale] constitutes, however, a genus by itself; 

 while the similarly coloured Cape polecat (fctonyx), is one of two 

 representatives of a small genus, the second of which ranges from 



