546 DR. J. E, GRAY ON THE VIVERRID&. [Nov. 8, 
CRYPTOPROCTA FEROX. B.M. 
Fur pale brown; hair short, uniform, that of the back with a 
small pale tip; under fur dusky. 
Cryptoprocta ferox, Bennett, P. Z. 8. 1833, p. 46; Trans. Zool. 
Soe. 1. 137, t. 14; Gerrard, Cat. Ost. B. M. 81; De Blainv. Ost. 
Atlas, 15, 96, t.6&12; Schinz, Syn. Mamm. i. 381. 
C. typicus, A. Smith, 8. African Quart. Journ. ii, 134. 
Hab. Madagascar (Charles Telfair). 
The skull of the Cryptoprocta, with its milk-teeth, is ovate, with 
a very short, rather compressed nose, large orbit, imperfect behind, 
and very short, much turned-out, slender zygomatic arches. The 
teeth are somewhat like those of a Viverra malaccensis of the same 
age; but the face is much shorter, and the palate broader in front, 
and the flesh-tooth more compressed longitudinally. The false 
grinders 2/3 ; the upper front are small and much worn. The flesh- 
tooth is long, compressed, with slight processes, without any tubercle 
on the middle of the inner side. The tubercular is triangular ; the 
front edge rather the longer ; the outer edges oblique, and inner 
one narrow, rounded, with three slightly raised tubercles on the 
front, and one on the hinder part of the crown. 
Length of the skull 3 inches; width of brain-case, over ears, 14 
inch, at zygomatic arch 13 inch. 
The Cryptoprocta “ has an anal pouch, and when violently enraged 
it emits a most disagreeable smell, very like that of Mephites ; when 
at liberty, it lies constantly in a rolling position, sleeping always on 
its side or even on its back, holding with its fore feet the small wires 
of its cage.” 
See M. J. Geoffroy’s observations on this genus (Mag. Zool. 1839, 
p- 25). He says it is very different from Galidia—which no one 
could doubt, if he studied the description of the feet :— 
“Le Cryptoprocta de Bennett, peutétre le méme que |’ Zupleres de 
M. Doyer, semble plutot étre le représentant des Paradorures de Ma- 
dagascar.’—Jourdan, Ann. Sci. Nat. vii. 272, 1837. This is a 
mistake, as any one may prove, by comparing the skulls, which are 
both figured in De Blainville’s ‘Ostéographie.’ M. Pucheran also 
appears to think that this animal and the one described as Eupleres 
goudotii may not be different (see Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1858, p. 40). 
II. Tue Doc-roorep ViverrID& (Cynopoda). 
The hind feet slender; underside bald, or more or less covered 
with scattered hairs. The toes slender, free, compressed, straight, 
slightly hairy ; the claws exserted, exposed, blunt at the end. The 
orbit of the skull complete, or only slightly imperfect on the hinder 
edge. The body elongate; legs generally short. The fur is gene- 
rally harsh, grizzled. The back is not crested. The tail conical or 
cylindrical, hairy, not dark-ringed. The anal pouches shallow, or 
not present. 
