new species of Parado:xure. 301 



be found as full, clear and satisfactory as the nature of the subject 

 admits of. 



My first acquaintance with it was at Cambridge, about the middle of 

 March 1827. It was then, and still continues, in the possession of Mr. 

 Wombwell ; who, during the fortnight he remained in that neighbour- 

 hood, afforded me every facility of examining it, and studying its 

 mannei-s. Suspecting it to be an undescribed species, as no mention was 

 made of it in the zoological works to which I had access, I examined it 

 with the greatest attention, and noted down my observations while the 

 animal was under my eye. From this time I lost sight of it till last 

 August, when I had again frequent opportunities of observing it in 

 London, and of verifying the observations which I had formerly made : 

 and, as I had then more ready access to the works of the Continental 

 Naturalists than I before enjoyed, I became confirmed in my former sur- 

 mise of its being an undescribed species. As such I pointed it out to my 

 friend Mr. Woods, who perfectly coincided with me in opinion ; and who 

 has since informed me that it is unknown to the French Museums, which 

 he has lately visited. 



In external size, and bodily form and appearance, this animal, to which 

 I propose assigning the name of Paradoxurus leucopus, from a circum- 

 stance which will be mentioned afterwards, seems to hold an intermediate 

 place between the Par. Typus, or Black Genet of Buflbn, and the common 

 Cat. It has the small attenuated fox- like head of the other Paradoxures, 

 which it also resembles in the form of the legs and feet : but the body is 

 rounder and more compact; the fur shorter, thicker and finer; and the 

 tail perfectly cylindrical, thick at the base, and tapering towards the 

 point. The ears are naked and semicircular, of a dark colour, and very 

 ragged, as if torn by the thick and prickly underwood, among which 

 the animals of this genus in all probability reside in their natural state. 

 The nose terminates in a small black muzzle, in the under part of which 

 the nostrils are placed, as in the dog, civet and other carnivorous animals. 

 The extremities are semiplantigrade ; the soles of the feet white, and 

 naked to within about half an inch of the heel, which is covered with hair 

 and slightly elevated in walking ; and the toes, which are five on each foot, 

 are all on the same line, and connected, like those of the common cat, 

 nearly to the origin of the claws, which are white and almost perfectly 

 Vol. IV. X 



