102 



VIVERRlD.i:. 



Genus PRIONODON, Horsfield, 1823. 



Sjn. Linsang, Miiller, 1839. 



No dorsal mane. Form slender ; limbs short ; head and neck 

 long; ears short, rounded; muzzle pointed; tail very long, cylin- 

 drical. Claws perfectly retractile and sharp ; thumb and hallux 

 near the other digits. There is on the inner proximal side a sup- 

 plementary lobe to the central palmar and plantar pads, separated 



Fig. 24.^ — Skull of Frionodon maculustis. 



from the other three lobes by hair in P. pardlcolor, but not in the 

 other species. Metatarsus and metacarpus hairy beneath. No pre- 

 scrotal glands. Anal glands present. Fur soft. Female with four 

 teats — two ventral anteriorly situated, and two inguinal. Colour 

 fulvous, with bold black spots or markings. Tail ringed. 



Dentition: i. g, c. ^, pm. ^, m. ~ 5 the posterior upper 

 molar of Viverra wanting. The teeth are sharp and compressed. 



Of this genus two species are found within our area, a third is 

 Malay. All appear to be carnivorous ; they may also, as suggested 

 by Hodgson, live partly upon insects. An allied genus, Poiana, is 

 the representative of Prionodou iu Africa. 



Synopsis of Indian and Burmese Species. 



A. Smaller ; head and body about 15 inches ; 



skull 2^ to 2f ; hack with longitudinal rows 



of large spots P. pardicolor, p. 103. 



B. Larger; head and body 18 to 20 inches, skull 3; 



back with broad transvei'se hands P. macttlosus, p. 101. 



