MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 



name Genetta would be properly applied. Of the other animals enumerated by 

 Gmelin under the genus Viverra, the classification, as well as the existence, remains 

 to be confirmed. 



Of the various genera here enumerated, Potos, (or Cercoleptes), Gulo, and 

 Mephitis, are Plantigrada ; to these later discoveries have added two others, which, 

 according to the views of Gmehn, would likewise have been associated with the 

 multifarious genus Viverra, namely, Mydaus and Paradoxurus of Fr^d. Cuvier. 

 But my object in detailing these genera, is to add a few remarks on those 

 animals which belong to the family of Digitigrada, in so far as they illustrate the 

 afiinity of Mangusta. Although these animals agree generally in the structure of 

 their teeth, an examination of the relative development of their grinders, parti- 

 cularly of the carnassiers of Fred. Cuvier, (the chewing grinders of Fleming,) sug- 

 gests the following arrangement, vi^. Genetta, Viverra, Ryzaena, and Mangusta. I 

 have before me for this comparison, from the splendid museum of Joshua Brookes, 

 Esq., a very perfect skull of Genetta and of Viverra, as above defined, with the 

 skull of the Mangusta javanica, extracted from the specimen, the figure of which 

 illustrates this article. In the Genetta, which lives in part, and often almost entirely, 

 on vegetable food, the points of the carnivorous teeth are short and strongly 

 rounded, and the tuberculous teeth, by the obtuseness of their points, indicate that 

 they are comparatively much used in mastication. In Viverra, the habits of which 

 are more exclusively carnivorous, the points of the posterior grinders are lengthened 

 and acute, and the points of the tuberculous teeth are likewise more prominent. 

 The fifth grinder in the lower jaw illustrates the character of these animals in the 

 strongest manner. A very evident development of this tooth shews itself in 

 Viverra ; and, as far as I can judge from description alone, it is stiU greater in 

 Suricata or Ryzaena ; but in Mangusta, the points of this tooth exhibit a great 

 elongation and acuteness ; and this character, a development of the points of the 

 teeth, is observed in a proportionate degree in all the grinders. In Mangusta a 

 character and disposition strictly and exclusively carnivorous, exist in a higher 

 degree than in Suricata, Viverra, or Genetta : and we find, in accordance with this, 

 the carnivorous teeth and the grinders generally more acute and lengthened. 



The examinations connected with the description of the Mangusta javanica, and 

 the comparisons which I instituted among the numerous genera above mentioned, 

 naturally suggested a reconsideration of the Felis gracilis, which was described in 

 the first Number of these Researches : and as the most rigorous comparisons and 

 examinations have confirmed my original views, regarding the natural affinity of 

 this animal, I shall now concisely detail their result. 



