510 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE VIVERRID&. [Nov. 8, 
The shortness of the characters that I give to some genera has 
been objected to by some writers, especially by amateurs who have 
not studied the Linnean brevity and method of description. They 
overlook the fact that the characters of the sections and subsections 
of the family that precede the genus form an essential part of the 
generic character, in the same manner that the section of the genus 
is part of the specific character of the species that the section contains. 
The definition of the subsections of the families and genera requires 
more study, analysis, and consideration than the writing out of a 
long generic character, that contains particulars that are common to a 
number of allied genera, such as the writers who make the complaint 
usually give. At the same time, the use of such detailed characters 
requires a greater exertion on the reader’s part to eliminate the essen- 
tial particulars, which are the real characters of the group. In the 
above table, the most easily seen and often empirical characters are 
purposely chosen, for facility of use and brevity. I have even used 
the colour of the animal for this purpose; for it has a great influence 
on the formation of a natural genus—more than many zoologists are 
willing to admit. Even those who know this fact avoid making use 
of it, apparently fearing that it might not be considered scientific! 
In the body of the essay, longer generic characters are given. Those 
who object to analytic characters forget the immense number of ani- 
mals now known, and the great advantage of a rapid way of disco- 
vering the name of the animal they seek, and whose history they 
desire to know. As Mr. W.S. Macleay justly observes, ‘the mo- 
dern art of describing is too long, often insufferably long, while hu- 
man life remains as short as ever.” ——I/lust. Zool. South Africa, p. 54. 
I. Tue Cat-rootrep ViveRRIDz (Aluropoda) 
have broad feet, with short arched toes, covered with abundant 
_close-spreading hair, united together at the base by a more or less 
distinct web, and armed with short, sharp, retractile claws. They 
are covered with a soft elastic fur, except the anomalous genus 
Arctictis, which has a very harsh fur and a prehensile tail. 
A. Digitigrade. The underside of the hind feet hairy, except the 
pads of the toes, the metatarsus, and sometimes a small part 
of the tarsus ; the upper flesh-tooth elongate ; upper tubercular 
small, transverse ; nose short, underside flat, with a central 
groove. 
Tribe 1. ViVERRINA. 
The body robust ; tubercular teeth 2/1, 2/1; the back of the hind 
feet hairy, except the pad of the toes and the metatarsus. 
There is a deep pouch for secreting civet, in the form of a deep 
cavity on each side of the anus (P. Z. S. 1832, p. 63). 
All the genera of this tribe are restricted to the Old World, except 
Bassaris, which is American. This American group is peculiar in 
