FOSSA. 



449 



cheek-teeth than any of the existing cats, the premolar teetli being never less 

 than three — and vei-y frequently four — on each side of both the upper and 

 lower jaws. Bloreover, with the single exception of the above-mentioned 

 species from Madagascar (wliich is at once distinguished from all the cats by 

 the presence of four premolar teeth), the civets always have two molar teeth 

 in the lower jaw — that is to say, there is a tooth behind the lower flesh-tooth. 

 Further, in nearly all cases there are also two molar teeth in the upper jaw and 

 behind the flesh-tooth ; these molar teeth (as shown in the accompanying figure of 

 the upper jaw of the Indian 

 civet) being generally of large 

 size, and thus very different from 

 the single small upper molar of 

 the cats. With the above- 

 mentioned exception, the upper 

 flesh-tooth has but two lobes to 

 the blade ; while the lower flesh- 

 tooth has a large tubei-cular heel 

 behind the cutting blade. As a 

 general rule, their feet have four 

 toes ; but in some cases the first 

 toe (thumb) may be wanting in 

 the fore-feet, in others the corresponding toe may be absent in the hind-feet, while 

 in others, again, both fore and hind-feet may be four-toed. Then, again, while in 

 some forms the claws can be withdra^\•n into sheaths as completely as in the cats, 

 in others they are but partially retractile ; this difference depending, as pointed 

 out by Mr. Blanford, to a great extent as to whether the animals walk on their 

 toes (digitigrade), or on the soles of their feet (plantigrade). 



None of the civets attain large dimen.sions : and they are chiefly characteristic 

 of Africa, Madagascar, and South-Easteru Asia, only two species entering the 

 southern parts of Europe. 



THK I.KKT HALF UK UIK L I'l'EB JAW OF THE INDIAN LIVET. 



To sliow the form and number of the teeth. The fourth tooth 

 from tlie left ,suie of the figure is the tusk, or canine ; and tlie 

 third tooth from tlie right side the flesh-tooth, or last premolar ; 

 the two teeth behind the latter being the molars. (From the 

 Pakvontologia Indim.) 



The Fossa. 

 Genus Cryptoproda. 



The fossa of Madagascar, which is the largest Carnivore found in that island, 

 is the species already alluded to as connecting the more typical members of the 

 present family with the cats. This peculiar animal differs, indeed, so remarkably 

 from all the other representatives of the civet tribe, that it has been considered by 

 some that it ought to be referred to a separate family ; but in most features it 

 agrees so essentially with the civets that this view is now generally discarded by 

 zoologists. 



The fossa {Cryptoproda ferox) is a nearly uniformly-coloured animal, with 

 short and thick pale brown fur ; and it attains a total length of about 5 feet from the 

 snout to the tip of the tail, the length of the tail being more than three-quarters 

 that of the head and body. The curved claM's are sharp and retractile ; and the 



VOL. I. — 29 



