178 PROF. ST.-GKORGE MIVART ON THE ^LUROIDEA. [Feb. 7, 



Jonrn. Nat. Hist. ii. pi. 13. fig. 2 ; H. villicollis, Madras Journal, 

 1839, pi. 2. M. Chatin, in vol. xiv. (1874) of the .5th series of the 

 Ann. des Sc. Nat. pp. 79-88, figs. 34-37, describes and figures the 

 anal glands of three species of Herpestes. Horsfield describes the 

 anal poucb of another under the name Mungusta javanica. 



The pupil contracts so as to present a horizontally extended 

 aperture ; at least it does so in living examples examined by me 

 and Mr. Bartlett. In H, auropvMctatus the anus opened most 

 distinctly on the surface of the body, and not into a saccular depres- 

 sion. This fact, and the difference of the teeth in different species, 

 incline me to believe that the genus will hereafter be divided into 

 two or more genera vehea the structure of all the forms has been 

 thoroughly worked out. 



The genus Herpestes exhibits the characters before enumerated as 

 existing in Viverra, except nos. 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26 (often), 29, 

 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, and 53. 



The (to me doubtful) genus Helogule was founded by Gray', and 

 contains two species, H. parvula, from Natal and other parts of 

 South Africa, and H. undulata from Mozambique. It is a very small, 

 herpestiform animal, with a bald or nearly bald tarsus. Both its 

 cranial and dental characters are those of Herpestes, save that both 

 ?^ are wanting, while at the same time ^— is placed close behind 

 the canine, so that there is no diastema. The length of the head 

 and body is 2.i", of the tail 13". 



The genus Ct/tiictis was instituted by Ogilby in 1833^ who has 

 figured the skull and external form in the first volume of our 

 'Transactions.' There is one species which comes from South Africa. 

 It is of a reddish colour with more or less anntilated hair and a bushy 

 tail, with a tarsus which seems to be constantly very hairy ; and the 

 metatarsus is also hairy. The animal is herpestiform, but slender, 

 and has no hallux ; and the poUex is very short. The orbits are 

 completely encircled by bone ; and all the cranial and dental charac- 

 ters are like those of Herpestes, save that the infraorbital foramen 

 opens above the interval between ^^ and -^, and ^^ is rather 

 larger. Its outer internal cusp is more prominent, and sometimes 

 bifurcates at its apex, as it also does in Herpestes albicaudus and 

 probably in some others. 



The skull (including the basis cranii) of Cynictis is figured by 

 De Blainville, Osteog. {Viverra), pi. 5; the appendicular skeleton 

 on pis. 10 «& 11, and its dentition on pi. 12. 



The length of the head and body is 45"- 6, of the tail 30"-4. 

 I can find no record of the anatomy of its soft parts or the con- 

 dition of the anus ; but the condition of the skins seemed to me to 

 indicate that the anus opens into a depression as in certain species 

 of Herpestes. This suspicion has been confirmed by the exami- 

 nation of a Hving specimen at our Gardens. Cynictis agrees with 

 Herpestes, save as above indicated. 



> P. Z. S. 1861, p. 308 ; see also P. Z. S. 1864, p. 570, and Oat. of Camivora, 

 p. 169. 

 2 See P. Z. S. 1833, p. 48, and Trans. Z. S. (1836), vol. i. p. 29, pi. 34. 



