1882.] PROF. ST.-GEORGE MIVART ON THE ALUROIDEA. 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 4 Il’histoire anatomique des 
glandes odorantes chez quelques Mammiftres’’) in a_ periodical 
named ‘Comp. Rendu Assoe. frangaise,’ vol. i. (1872), p. 557. The 
parts of C. fasciatus are described and figured by him (under the 
name Herpestes fasciatus) in the Ann, des Se. 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. xii. p. 150, 
1. 19. 
i 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. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxiv. p. 16, 1804), and was called Ryzena 
by Illiger (Prodromus, p. 134). It is figured and described by 
Buffon and Daubenton (H. Nat. vol. xiii. p. 72, pl. 8). Its anatomy 
has also been described by Hunter (‘ Essays and Observations,’ 
vol. ii. p. 55) and by Prof. Owen (P. Z. 8. 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 38'8, 
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. 8. 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. 
