680 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE MUSTELIDZ. [Nov. 28, 
should proceed to describe species of fossil animals without having 
properly studied the osteology of the recent species and the varia- 
tions that the bones, teeth, horn, and other parts of the skeleton 
assume in the recent species, which they have the opportunity of 
studying in a more complete manner than they can have in the case 
of fossil species. More especially I object to the practice of such 
students as describe species of fossil animals from fragments, which 
it would be very unwise to declare to be distinct if they belonged 
to some recent species which there was an opportunity of examining 
in a complete state and of comparing with other skeletons of allied 
species. Yet many fossil species have been described from such spe- 
cimens, so that our catalogues are thereby encumbered with useless 
names. 
2. Nore on THE Hasits oF THE Kinkasou (CERCOLEPTES CAU- 
DIvoLvuLus). By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., etc. 
The Kinkajou was formerly considered a Lemur, and the manner 
in which it uses its feet as hands might well mislead a casual ob- 
server, I saw one the other evening in the Zoological Gardens rest- 
ing on its rump with the tail coming out in front between its hind 
legs. It was holding in its fore feet a slice of bread, and every now 
and then it would take off a piece with one or the other of its fore 
feet, and hold it as in a hand to its mouth, or take from it small 
pieces with the other hand like a child eating a cake, and quite as 
handily ; yet this animal has no opposite thumb on any of the feet, 
and only short fingers and toes webbed nearly to the claws. 
3. SupPLEMENTARY NoTES ON THE MUSTELID2. 
By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., erc. 
In my Revision of the Mustelide (P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 100) I find 
that I neglected to give the external characters by which the two 
species of Ratels might be distinguished ; they are as follows :— 
Mellivora indica. Black; the back iron-grey ; crown of the head 
white. India. 
Mellivora capensis. Black ; the back iron-grey ; the crown and a 
broad stripe down each side of the back to the tail white. South 
Africa. 
The latter species is easily known by the greater quantity of white 
on the head and the broad white lateral edge to the iron-grey colour 
on the back. 
I take this opportunity of giving two illustrations of the skull of 
Arctonyx collaris, which should have accompanied my descriptio 
of that species (J. c. p. 138). ; 
