208 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE [Feb. 7, 
It is interesting to note that the genera of Viverride with nu- 
merous anal glands and a large circumanal pouch are African, and 
especially South-African, like Hyena brunnea. 
The extreme geographical limits of the Viverride seem to be 
France, Spain, Shanghai, Formosa, the Philippines, Celebes, Lom- 
bock, Madagascar, the Cape, and the north-western part of Africa— 
Cape Verd. 
The most northern range in the continent of Asia appears to be 
that of Hyena striata in Asia Minor’. 
No species of the Viverride is so widely diffused as is Viverricula. 
Geograpically, then, as well as in some respects structurally, the 
Viverride (apart from the Madagascar forms) seem to divide them- 
selves into two great sections—one Asiatic and Viverrine, the other 
African and Herpestine. 
The #luroidea being considered as one whole, and Dr. Gray’s twelve 
species of Paradoxurus and my enumeration of Cats being pro- 
visionally accepted, we have a total of 5 species of Aluroids in Europe, 
7 species in Madagascar, 11 species in America (all Cats), 46 species 
in Africa, and 68 in Asia, 7 of these being common to both 
Africa and Asia. 
Before long I hope to lay before the Society my notes on some 
parts of the anatomy, and especially on the osteology of the Mlu- 
roidea. 
2. On some Points in the Anatomy of the Indian Darter 
(Plotus melanogaster), and on the Mechanism of the 
Neck in the Darters (Plotus), in connexion with their 
Habits. By W. A. Forszs, B.A., Prosector to the 
Society. 
7 [Received January 9, 1882.] 
It is to the late Prof. Garrod that we are indebted for our know- 
ledge of the great differences in the anatomy of the digestive organs 
of the American® (Plotus anhinga), and African* (P. levaillanti) 
Darters. The existence of such differences in birds apparently so 
nearly allied made it very desirable to obtain a knowledge of these 
parts in the other species of the genus Plotus. 
On April 8th last, the Society obtained, by exchange from the 
Zoological Gardens of Calcutta, the first specimen of the Indian 
Darter (Plotus melanogaster) that it has acquired. The specimen, a 
" P. de Tchihatcheff in his ‘Asie Mineure’ (1856), 2° partie, p.'602, reports good 
evidence of its existence in Asia Minor. He says :—‘Je nel’ai jamais observée 4 
Vétat vivant, mais dans plusieurs localités de la Phrygie, dela Mysie et du Pont, 
les habitants m’en ont positivement constaté l’existence: d’ailleurs 4 Selevké 
(littoral de la Cilicie pétrée) ; une dépouille de la Hyena striata me fut montrée 
par un chasseur Arménien qui m’assura d’avoir tué l’animal dans les montagnes 
voisines.” 
? P.Z.S. 1876, pp. 335-345 ; Scient. Papers, pp. 334-346, pls. xviii—xx. 
3 L. c, 1878, pp. 679-681; ¢. c. pp. 346-349. 
