1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ZLUROIDEA. 177 
anterior margin of the external auditory opening is slightly more 
produced than is the posterior one. The pterygoid fossa is small or 
absent. The condyloid foramen is concealed. The cranium is much 
pinched in behind the postorbital processes. The cranial ridges are 
small or moderate. The paroccipital processes do not depend. The 
mastoid is considerably developed (as in Cynogale), forming a con- 
siderable external ridge. The carotid canal begins near the anterior 
end of the inner wall of the hinder (and outer) chamber of the 
bulla. It opens anteriorly at the outer or inner end of the anterior 
(and inner) chamber ; and there is a mostly conspicuous foramen in 
the basis cranii between the alisphenoid close to the basisphenoid, 
through which the internal carotid artery passes up into the cranial 
cavity beside the hinder part of the sella turcica.. The palate 
is greatly prolonged behind the last molars. The infraorbital 
foramen opens generally above =~*. 
In dentition Herpestes generally much resembles Genetta, espe- 
M.1 2 
cially in the excessive transverse extension of —— and —— M.2" Some- 
times, as in H, persicus (No. 1436 6 in the British Museum), a 
is very minute ; and occasionally, as in H. smithit (No. 979 a, the 
skin also in the collection), “* is wanting (with no trace of a 
alveolus) on one side, and very minute on the other. Generally ™ — 
has two small outer and one large internal cusps, Generally also — a 
is more transversely extended and more trihedral than in any yet 
here described genus, and its posterior margin is rather more con- 
cave ; otherwise it is shaped as in Genetta and Viverricula. *-+ 
is quite like the homologous tooth of the Genets. *~* is somewhat 
broader behind than in Genetta, and = i small posterior inner 
cusp 5 and it is therefore more like the *~? of Paradocurus. 7? 
is much as in Viverra. 7 is smaller, and may be absent altogether 
(as in No. 4324 of College of Surgeons’ Museum and No. 148 ¢ of 
British Museum). The teeth of the lower jaw are like those of the 
Genet, except that the inner cusp of ;,; is rather more developed. 
pq 18 rather broader posteriorly, aia” pj 18 sometimes wanting. 
The teeth of H. paludosus are Bee aaenliy stout, as are also 
those of H. robustus, which are represented in P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 558, 
and Cat. of Carniv. p. 157. 
The teeth of Herpestes are represented by De Blainville, ‘ Ostéo- 
graphie’ (Viverra), pl. 12, the entire skeleton on pl. 1, and skulls 
and parts of the appendicular skeleton on intermediate plates. For 
the basis cranii see P. Z.S. 1869, p. 21, fig. 9. 
H. galera is the Vansire of Buffon (Hist. Nat. t. xiii. pl. 21). 
H, sanguineus is figured in Riippell’s ‘ Fauna of Abyssinia,’ pl. 8, and 
the skull on pl. 10; H. mutgigella, pl. 9. fig. 1; H. gracilis, pls. 8 
& 10; H. undulatus and H. ornatus (external forms, skulls, and 
foot-pads) on pls. 25 and 26 of Peters’s ‘ Reise nach Mossambique ;’ 
HI. smithii, P. Z. 8. 1851, pl. 31; H. albicaudus, Mag. de Zool. 
1839, pl. 11; and H. albescens, loc. cit. pl. 12; H. vera, Calcutta 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1882, No. XII. 12 
