1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE jELUROIDEA. 187 



end of the second f)lialanx of the fourth digit, which is longer than 

 the index and nearly equals the medius in length. The snout is 

 very pointed in G. vittuta, but does not appear to be so much so 

 in G. striata. In both, the tail has long hairs and the muzzle is 

 niedianly grooved beneath ; the tarsus is more or less completely 

 bald. The claws are slightly more curved than in the HerpestincB. 

 As to the skull, the auditory bulla is formed on the Herpestine 

 type, and has a partition between its chambers, with a considerable 

 aperture for intercommunication. There is a well-developed ptery- 

 goid fossa. The external opening of the auditory meatus is small 

 and slightly oval, its anterior margin being produced outwards, but 

 hardly more than is its posterior margin. The postorbital processes 

 are only moderately developed, and do"not even uearly meet ; the skull 

 is not much pinched in behind them. The paroccijjital does not 

 depend ; and the mastoid is much as in Herpestes, as also is the 

 carotid canal. There is no alisphenoid canal ; and the foramen ovale 

 is very near that for the entrance within the cranium of the internal 

 carotid, which is pretty conspicuous. There is no fissure or foramen 

 in the floor of the auditory meatus ; but there is a marked depression 

 where such a foramen is found in Herpestes. The palate is but little 

 prolonged behind the molars ; but this region is concave, each side 

 of it sloping into a median depression, the cranium being turned 

 with its base upwards. The palatine foramina are in the anterior 

 part of the palate, which is remarkably broad. The symphysis of 

 the mandible is extremely long, viz. l"-?, the length of the skull being 

 6"'2. The zygomata are arched strongly outwards. 



In the dentition the most noteworthy point is the large size of the 

 canines, and especially the length, strong curvature, and stoutness of 

 the lower ones, each having a marked prominence at the posterior 

 part of the base of its crown. The upper outer incisors also prepon- 

 derate greatly over the inner ones. The molars and premolars are 

 formed on the Herpestine type ; but |^ are absent, and — is close 

 to the canine and small, though with two roots. Zii is very sectorial; 

 and the talon of g-^ is small. The inner condyle of the humerus is 

 imperforate. 



I can find no record of the condition of the anus, or of the number 

 of anal glands, neither any note as to prescrotal glands. I, however, 

 anticipate that the latter are wanting, that tiiere is but a single pair 

 of anal glands, and that the anus opens on the surface of the body, 

 and not into a pouch. 



Galidklis agrees, so far as I know, with Viverra in the charac- 

 ters before enumerated, save as regards nos. 7, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23 

 24, 29, 31, 32, 35, 3G, 37, 38, 42, 43, and .53. 



Another genus instituted by Isidore Geoffroy St.-Hilaire for three 

 Viverrine animals from Madagascar, is the genus Galidia (Compt. 

 Rendus, 1857, p. 580, and Mag. de Zool. 1839, pis. 14-17). The 

 type of the genus must be taken to be that first described, namely 

 G. elegans. The skull and dentition of this species are given by 

 De Blainville (Viverras), plate 6. 



