506 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE VIVERRIDE. [Noy. 8, 
characters which I had before overlooked. I propose the following 
arrangement as one which seems best adapted to exhibit the natural 
affinities of the genera, as far as they can be shown in a linear series, 
and as one that will enable the student to determine the species. 
Thus, for example, I would propose to divide the tribes characterized 
in the paper (in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’) above 
referred to into two groups, according to the form and the hairiness 
of the toes and the form of the claws, characterized by the foot and 
claw of the Cat and of the Dog or the Bear. 
The bones of the toes of the animals of the first group, as in the 
Cats, form an angularly arched line, the last phalanges being bent up, 
so that the animal when it walks does not blunt its claws, which are 
only exserted when it wants to catch or tear some other animal. 
In the second group, which I have called Dog-footed, the bones of 
the toes form a more or less extended, slightly arched line ; and the 
claws, being always exposed, and worn when the animal walks, are. 
more or less blunt at the end. The more typical Dog-footed animals 
often scratch holes in the ground; and some have strong elongated 
arched claws for the purpose. 
The groupseare well defined and very distinct, and the above cha- 
racters are well marked in most of the genera ; but some few genera 
have feet that seem nearly intermediate between the two groups. In 
such cases the whole appearance of the animal must be taken into 
consideration, and the genera placed with those to which they seem 
most_allied in habit and manners. 
The difference in the form of the foot and claws is common to three 
families of the Carnivora; and, as it is connected with considerable 
peculiarity in the habit of the animal, it forms a good character to 
separate the tribes and genera into groups, thus :— 
VIVERRID. URSID&. Musrevip. 
A. Toes arched ; claws acute, retractile. 
Aluropoda. Dendropoda. Acanthopoda. 
Viverrina. Ailurina. Mustelina. 
Genettina. Cercoleptina. Lutrina. 
Paradoxurina. Procyonina. 
B. Toes straight ; claws exserted, blunt. 
Cynopoda. Brachypoda. Platypoda. 
Herpestina. Ursina. Mephitina. 
Mungosina. Mydaina. 
Melina. 
The genera of the three other families of Carnivora have a uniform 
kind of foot. Thus the Felide have a hairy foot, curved toes, and 
sharp claws; and the Canide and Hyenide straight toes and ex- 
serted, blunt claws. 
The animals of the different families which have sharp retractile 
claws have habits in common. ‘Thus the Cats, the Genets, the Pa- 
radoxuri, the Martins, the Atluri, and the Cercolepte defend them- 
