1864. ] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE VIVERRIDE. 597 
This genus is separated from Herpestes by the large size and thick- 
ness of the teeth and the strength of the lower jaw, with its two di- 
stinct prominences. The skull and lower jaw of both species, if they 
are distinct, are figured by De Blainville, as above referred to. 
1. ATHYLAX VANSIRE. 
Atilax vansire, F, Cuvier, Mamm. Lithog, 411. t.; Dict. Sci. 
Nat. t. 
Mustela galera, Erxl. Syst. 453; Schreb. Siugeth. t. 155. 
Viverra galera, Shaw. 
Herpestes galera, Desm. Mamm, 212; Wagner, Gel. Anzeig. ix. 
Mangusta gulera, Fischer, Syn. 165. 
Mangouste vansire, Geoff. 
Mangusta (Athylax) galera, De Blainv. Ostéogr. Viverra, t. 5 
(skull). 
Ichneumon vansire, A. Smith, S. A. Q. J. 53. 
I. galera, Geoff. Hist. Egypt, 138. 
Vansire, Buffon, H. N. xiii. 157, t. 21. 
Hab. Madagascar. 
According to De Blainville’s figure, the skull is more solid and 
stronger than that of 4. paludosus. 
Temminck thinks this a variety or local state of Herpestes pa- 
ludosus (Esq. Zool. 100). 
The description of the Vansire, from a stuffed specimen, is as fol- 
lows :—‘* The fur is less long than that of a Marten or Polecat, of 
the same dark brown colour on all parts of the body; the under fur 
is brown; the longer hairs are brown at the roots; the remainder 
blackish and reddish, which succeed each other at small intervals to 
the tip. These two colours occupy all the length of the hairs of the 
tail. Toes 5—5. Length of body and head 13 inches, tail 7 inches, 
hair 23 inches long. Madagascar.”—Buffon, H. N. xiii. 169, t. 21. 
In the figure, the claws are represented as long, compressed, arched, 
acute. 
The skull of the animal figured by F. Cuvier is engraved in 
De Blainv. Ostéogr. t. 5. 
2, ATHYLAX PALUDOSUS. B.M. 
Brown, closely yellow-punctulated ; hair elongate. 
Herpestes paludosus, Cuv. R. A.; Gray, Cat. Mamm. B.M. 52; 
Gerrard, Cat. Ost. B. M. 74. 
Mangusta urinatriz, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. iv. 237. 
H. palustris, Riippell. 
H. griseus, Burchell, Cat. 
H. caffer, Mus. Stuttgard. 
H. paludinosus, Peters, Reise Mossamb. Sadugeth. 119. 
H. atilaz (partly), Schinz, Syn. Mamm. i. 371. 
Ichneumon urinatriz, A. Smith, 8S. African Quart. Journ. i. 51. 
Mangusta paludinosa, De Blainv. Ostéog. Viverra, t. 5 (skull), 
t. 12 (teeth). 
