1882.] PRUF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE J^XUROIUEA. 183 



The anus opens into the middle of a very large and deep fossa, 

 into which several pairs of anal glands also open. The structure of 

 these parts is described by M. Chatin as they exist in both species. 

 The condition found in C obscurus is described by him (in a paper 

 entitled " Recherches pour servir a I'histoire anatomique des 

 glandes odorantes chez quelques Mammiferes ") in a periodical 

 named ' Comp. Rendu Assoc, frangaise,' vol. i. (18/2), p. 557. The 

 })arts of C. fasciatus are described and figured by him (under the 

 name Herpestes fasciatus) in the Ann. des Sc. Nat. vol. xix. (5th 

 series), 1874, p. 89, figs. 29-33, and 38. 



No less than five pairs of glands are arranged about the anus, and 

 pour their secretion into the capacious and naked anal pouch. 



C. fasciatus is described and figured in Buffon, vol. xiii. p. 150, 

 pi. 19. 



Except as above indicated, the characters of Crossarchus are (so 

 far as I know) those of Herpestes. 



The Suricate was formed into the genus Suricata by Desmarest 

 (N. Diet, d'llist. Nat. xxiv. p. 16, 1804), and was called Byzana 

 by Illiger (Prodromus, p. 134). It is figured and described by 

 Bulfon and Daubenton (H. Nat. vol. xiii. p. 72, pi. 8). Its anatomy 

 has also been described by Hunter (' Essays and Observations,' 

 vol. ii. p. 55) and by Prof. Owen (P. Z. S. 1830, pp. 39, 51). 



The animal is from South Africa, and is called " Meer Kat" at 

 the Cape. The hair is annulated, and so marked as to form trans- 

 verse bands across the loins. The ears are very short. The tarsus 

 is hairy. There is no pollex or hallux, there being mere rudiments 

 of the first metacarpal and the first metatarsal beneath the skin. 

 The nose is pointed, rather elongated and movable, and has no 

 median groove on its underside. Length of head and body 3S"-8, 

 of tail 21". The skull is relatively very broad, especially behind, 

 facial portion short. The basis cranii shows the Herpestiform cha- 

 racter of the bulla carried to a yet more exaggerated degree than in 

 Crossarchus ; but it is flattened beneath, and the hinder chamber does 

 not generally depend below the anterior chamber. The opening of 

 the external auditory meatus is small and triangular ; and its anterior 

 margin projects most. 



Prof. Flower has pointed out (P. Z. S. 1869, p. 20) that the much 

 elongated meatus is fissured along the whole extent of its floor. The 

 anterior chamber of the bulla is very prominent ; and the opening 

 between the two chambers is rather larger than heretofore. There 

 is a distinct but short alisphenoid canal. There are long postorbital 

 processes which enclose the orbits ; but the cranium is very little 

 pinched in behind them. The cranial ridges are moderate. The 

 condyloid foramen may or may not be concealed. The paroccipital 

 process is flattened, and does not depend. The mastoid is very 

 marked, more so relatively than even in Nandinia. The carotid 

 canal commences towards the hinder end of the auditory bulla. 

 There is a conspicuous carotid foramen in the basis cranii on either 

 side ; and it is almost, if not quite, surrounded by the sphenoid. 



