1864.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE VIVERRID, 915 
I wrote to my excellent friend Dr. Peters to inquire if the Tunga 
of Anjuan could be the /. fossa, and if it was not a Genetta. He 
assured me that it agrees in all particulars with the Indian /. rasse, 
and, “like it, has no bald streak along the sole. It has a hairy sole 
to the hind feet, and a small callous spot to the pads of the palms 
towards the heel.’’—Letter, 24th Nov. 1864. 
Dr. Peters regards the animal called the Tunga, which is common 
on the island of Anjuan, one of the Comoro Islands, near Madagas- 
car, on the east coast of Africa, as the same as the Viverra rasse of 
Dr. Horsfield: he says it agrees with it in colour, in the form of the 
ears, and in the bristly quality of its fur; and it has the soles of its 
feet covered with hair as in that animal. He also observes that 
the fauna of these islands agrees more with those of Madagascar and 
India than with that of continental Africa (see Peters, Reise nach 
Messamb., Mammalia, 113). If the animal is identical, it is the 
only species of the family I know common to Asia and Africa. 
Tribe 2. GENETTINA. 
The body robust ; tubercular grinders 2/1, 2/1; the underside of 
the tarsus of the hind feet with a narrow bald line extending 
Srom the pads nearly to the heel. The orbit of the skull is very 
imperfect, only contracted above. The fur is soft, spotted or 
cloudy, and the tail ringed. 
5. Genetra, Cuv. Mamm. Lithog. 
Genetta, Brisson, R. A. 252; Gray, P. Z.S. ii. (1832) p. 63. 
Viverra, § Genetta, Cuvier, R. A. ; Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832; 
Cat. Mamm. B. M. 49. 
The body elongate ; back with a broad, continued, more or less 
crested, black streak. Tail long, slender, hairy, ringed. Legs mo- 
derate. Feet hairy. Toes 5—5; the sole of the hind foot with a 
narrow longitudinal bald streak. Claws short, retractile. Skull 
elongate, narrow. Teeth 40; false grinders —; flesh-tooth elon- 
gate ; tubercular grinders = 
Hab. Africa and South Europe. 
Sir A. Smith observes, ‘They strike and scratch with the fore 
feet, like a cat. ‘They spring on their prey, and climb with great 
facility.”’ 
The form and colour of the tail seem the best characters for the 
distinction of the species; the pale bands even vary a little in width 
and distinctness. The form, colour, and disposition of the spots 
vary much; they are sometimes confluent. 
* Tail tapering, with elongate, rather spreading hairs, and with 
numerous black and white rings; tip white. 
1. GENETTA VULGARIS. B.M. 
Blackish grey, black-spotted ; tail elongate, with white and black 
