22 



only the extreme development of this dilatation that gives to the 

 teeth of" Propithecus a peculiarity of character rather resembling at 

 first sight that of the Monkeys than the Lemurs. The number o( the 

 incisors of the lower jaw diftlrs from that of Lemur, but occurs in 

 another genus, Indri: and it may be remarked, that in Propithecus, 

 as in Indri, the canine teeth of the lower jaw close behind those of 

 the upper, — a remark which tends to invalidate an opinion expressed 

 by M. Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, that the outer of the six incisors of 

 the lower jaw ought rather to be regarded as canine teeth, the usual 

 position of the lower canines when the mouth is closed being ante- 

 rior to the upper. The nuniber of the false molars in Propithecus 

 is one less in each jaw than in Lemur, and they are less smooth and 

 not so acutely triangular; the second in the upper jaw being in fact 

 somewhat tuberculate on its outer edge, and forming, as it were, a 

 transition from the false to the true molars between which it is 

 placed. The posterior molars were not examined. 



The external characters by which it is distinguished from Lemur 

 are its shorter muzzle, ternu'nated by more approximate nostrils, 

 the upper margin of which appears to be only slightly lobulated : 

 its rounded ears: the marked disproportion in length between its 

 hinder and anterior extremities : the greater length of its hands, 

 especially of the anterior: the shortness of its anterior thumb, which 

 is also placed much further back: the marked abbreviation of the 

 ikx\\.e\-\ov index : the development and power of the hinder thumb, 

 which is nearl}'^ an equal opponent to the wliole of the fingers : and 

 the comparative shortness of the hairs by which the tail is covered. 



Mr. Bennett concluded by expressing his regret that no particu- 

 lars respecting the habits of this interesting addition to our cata- 

 logues of MnmmaUa were known to him. He trusted, however, that 

 the zealous correspondent by whom it was presented to the Society, 

 and to whose liberality the Society is so deeply indebted, would at 

 an early period obtain the requisite information, by inquiries in the 

 district of Madagascar in which it is found, and where it is stated 

 to be rare. 



Colonel Sykes took occasion to add the Viverra Rasse, Horsf., to 

 his Catalogue of the Mammalia of Dukhun, the two specimens ex- 

 hibited to the Committee, which he had hitherto regarded as va- 

 rieties of the J'iv. Indica, Geofl'., having been pronounced by Dr. 

 Horsfield to be the Viv. Indica and Viv. Basse. The habitat of the 

 former is in the woods of the western Ghauts ; the latter is found 

 in the table land eastward of the Ghauts. 



Dr. Horsfield furnished the following account of the differences 

 between the two animals. In Viv. Basse the colour is grey, incli- 

 ning to tawny or dark fulvous ; the form is lengthened and slender; 

 the ears are short and suddenly rounded, having somewhat the ap- 

 pearance of being artificially clipped off; the dorsal lines are eight 

 in number, broad and distinct ; and the lateral lines obscure, inter- 

 rupted and consisting of separate spots. In Viv. Indica the colour 

 is light grey inclining to yellow ; the form is lengthened and slen- 



