1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ZLUROIDEA. 149 
(52) There is no plate-like process on the outer side of the radius. 
(53) There is no oval patch of conspicuously-enlarged papille on 
the dorsum of the anterior part of the tongue. 
(54) Ascending ramus of mandible not flattened beneath. 
(55) Tail long. 
(56) Anterior premolars not greatly elongated. 
The next genus comprises only the Rasse, for which the genus 
Viverricula has been instituted’ by Hodgson, who says that it 
differs from species of the genus Viverra, which never climb, by its 
seansorial habit. It is also distinguishable from Viverra by its 
smaller size, smaller snout, and by a very small bald spot on the tibial 
side of the plantar pad, noticed by Gray *and figured by Hodgson *. 
The alisphenoid canal is almost always absent; the bulla is, as 
Professor Flower says*, “large, as wide in front as behind, much 
elongated, narrow, and compressed laterally. The anterior chamber 
is rather more developed, and less distinctly marked from the pos- 
terior.” The postorbital processes are longer than in Viverra; and 
the skull is greatly compressed behind them. The paroccipital 
process does not depend below the bulla. The pollex and hallux 
are shorter, not reaching to the distal end of the adjoining meta- 
tarsal and metacarpal. The character of the dentition is inter- 
mediate between that of Viverra and that of Genetta. 4-5 may have 
only three cusps. The Rasse has a most extensive geographical 
distribution, having been obtained in China, Foochow, Formosa, 
Amoy, Gangootra, Camboja, Singapore, Nepal, Madras, Ceylon, 
Penang, Java, Lombok, Bombay, Socotra, Madagascar, and also 
from the Comoro Island Anjuan’. 
The Rasse has been described at length, and many interesting details 
concerning it given, by Horsfield in his ‘Zoological Researches in Java’ 
(1824), witha figure of its external form, representations of which will 
be found in F. Cuvier’s ‘ Mammiféres,’ vol. ii.; also in Sonnerat’s 
‘Voyage,’ vol. ii. p. 144, pl. 91; andin Pollen’s ‘ Faunede Madagascar,’ 
p- 16, pl. 10. Its dentition, both immature and adult, is given on plate 
xii. of De Blainville’s ‘Ostéographie ’ (Viverra). Its foot-pads are 
represented by Hodgson, Calcutta Journal of Natural Hist. (1842), 
vol. ii. pl. 1. fig. iv. As might be expected from its wide distribution, 
the Rasse varies greatly in colour and markings, similarly coloured 
varieties coming from widely separated localities. There is in the 
1 Journal of Asiat. Soc. of Bengal (1841), vol. x. part 2, p. 909. See also 
Gray, P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 513, and Brit. Mus. Cat. of Carnivora (1869), p. 47. 
? Brit. Mus. Cat. p. 47. 
> Calcutta Journal of Nat. Hist. (1842), vol ii. pl. 1. fig. iv. 
4 P.Z.S8. 1869, p. 18. 
® The animal from this island has been described and figured by Dr. 
Peters in his ‘Mossambique.’ Dr. Gray threw out the suggestion that this indi- 
vidual might be of the genus Fossa; but Dr. Peters has been kind enough to 
inform me that such is not the case, but that it is identical with Pollen’s Viverra 
schlegeli, which appears to me to be a variety of the widely diffused Viverricula 
malaccensis. Dr. Peters remarks to me :—“ If not identical with, it is very near 
that species.” 
