CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 



187 





THE STRIPED GALIDICTIS. 



Genus GALIDICTIS, Galidictis, presents two species, also of Madagascar. The G. striata is 

 distinguished by its coloring, which consists of brown bands or stripes on a light yellowish 

 ground. The body is ten inches long, and the tail long and bushy. The G. vittata is described 

 by Dr. Thomson, who possessed one for six months, as diurnal in its habits and agile and 

 graceful in its movements. In the native country of these creatures, they live in the woods, and 

 devour nuts, insects, etc. ; they often approach the houses, and make great havoc in the poultry- 

 yards. Like the weasel tribe, they kill their victims, and gorge themselves by drinking their 

 blood. 



THE CANID^E. 



The family of Canidce, from canis, a dog, embraces four genera : the Cynhyene, including the 

 Hyena-Dog ; the Canis, including the Dog, Wolf, and Jackal ; the Vulpes, including the Fox and 

 Fennec ; and the Otocyon. Formerly the Hyena was included in the same group, but for good 

 reasons, naturalists now give it a separate place. In this family, all the species of which are 

 iigitigrade and highly carnivorous, the head is more or less conical and pointed in front, from 

 :he jaws being somewhat produced ; the legs are of equal length, the anterior being furnished 

 >vith five, and the posterior with four toes, all armed with non-retractile claws. The tail is of 

 noderate length, and more or less tufted with hair. The senses are acute, that of scent being 

 leveloped in great perfection. The dentition is complicated : there are three false molars on 

 ;ach side in the upper, and four in the lower jaw ; these gradually increase in size posteriorly, 

 md approach the true molar in form. The latter is very large, compressed, and cutting, and is 

 bllowed in both jaws by two small tubercular teeth ; the total number of molars is six above 

 md six below, although this is variable iu the dogs. The tongue is soft, and destitute of horny 

 pines. 



Genus CYNHYENE: the Cynhycena of Cuvier. — Of this genus there is a single species, the 

 lynhyama pinctus, which is found from Caffraria to Abyssinnia. It is nearly of the size of the 

 \ T olf, but of inferior weight and strength. Its dentition is that of the dog, but it is distinguished 

 •>y having only four toes on each foot. The jaws are large and the legs long ; the colors are 

 •rown, yellow, and white, circularly disposed in patches, so as to have a very mottled appearance- — 

 hese markings varying in different individuals. This animal was at first supposed to be a hyena, 

 nd was consequently called the Painted Hyena : its common appellation is the Htexa-Dog, it 

 "aving a closer semblance to the canine species than to any other. It hunts the antelope and 



