142 PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ^LUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, 



in profile, it differs from the skulls of the varieties F. borealis, F. 

 canadensis, F. riifa, and F. inaculata in that the part between the 

 orbits is more raised and convex, and the nasal bones extend back- 

 wards beyond the nasal processes of the maxillae. 



Considering the length of time during which we have had power 

 in India, it is remarkable that our collection of Indian Cats should 

 be so imperfect as it is. I am, however, not without the hope of 

 being hereafter able to exhibit here a new collection of the skins and 

 crania of these animals. The species known as F. henyalensis espe- 

 cially requires investigation, as, if its range of variation both in size 

 and markings is not very extensive, several distinct species must be 

 included under that name. 



Amongst African Cats that described by Lesson ' under the name 

 F. senegalensis was probably but a young Serval. There is unfor- 

 tunately no specimen of it in the Paris Museum ; and the type was a 

 cat living at the hospital of Rochefort-sur-Mer. We have as yet, so 

 far as I know, no specimen of i^. colocoUo in this country ; and we much 

 need more skins and skulls from America to help us to determine 

 the value of the forms distinguished as F. tigrina, F. mitts, and F. 

 macroura. 



The second ^Eluroid family, the Viverridts, presents a great con- 

 trast to the first in the great variety of the forms it contains. In- 

 stead of being unable to divide it into subfamilies, the difticulty is to 

 avoid making too many. Two subfamilies, ViverrincB and Heiyes- 

 tincB, must, I think, be instituted for the Viverrine and Herpestine 

 sections of the group. In the former must stand Viverra, Viverri- 

 cula, Fossa, Genetta, Prionodon, Poiana, Paradoxuriis, Jrctogale, 

 and Hemigalea. In the latter I would place Herpestes, Helogale, 

 Cynictis, Bdeogale, Ithinogale, Crossarchiis, and Suricata. 



As to Nandinia, Arctictis, and Cynogale, arguments are by uo 

 means wanting in favour of the erection of each of these three genera 

 into a distinct subfamily. I hesitate, however, so far to multiply 

 groups of that rank ; and I would retain them all, at least provision- 

 ally, amongst the Viverriim. 



The genera of this subfamily seem to group themselves in two sets 

 (as was indicated by Mr. Turner -), one set being that of the Civets, 

 the other that of the Paradoxures, as follows : — 



A. Viverra, Viverricula, Fossa, Genetta, Prionodon, and Poiana, 



B. Paradoxurus, Arctogale, Arctictis, Hemigalea, Nandinia, and 

 Cynogale. 



The subfamily Herpestincp. seems divisible into two sets — one (A) 

 including Herpestes, Helogale, and Cynictis ; while the second set (B) 

 will comprise Crossarchus and Suricata. I cannot certainly deter- 

 mine to which set Bdeogale and Rhinogale should belong till more 

 of their anatomy is known. 



It is to the latter set that I regard the Hycenidce as specially 

 allied, while Cryptoprocta (in spite of its claws and dentition) seems 



^ Guerin's Mag. cle Zool. 1839, t. x. (Mammiferes). 

 * P. Z. 8. 1848, p. 87. 



