MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 



degree acuminated, which contributes, with their other characters, to give them a 

 physiognomy essentially different from that of Fehne animals. 



From these details it appears, that although the Felis gracilis agrees with the 

 Mangusta javanica in the structure of the grinders, particularly of those in the lower jaw, 

 it is in other respects entirely different, as well from this animal, as from Viverrine ani- 

 mals generally; whUe, with a slight modification of characters, it agrees with the Feline 

 animals hitherto known, particularly in the general physiognomy, in the structure 

 and disposition of the feet and claws, in the absence of an anal pouch, in a cylin- 

 drical tail, and even in the external marks on the skin. We have thus an agree- 

 ment in one character, or a relation of analogy, while in the aggregate of the other 

 characters, which should regulate us in the classification of the animal, we have an 

 indication of its relations of affinity. 



When I examined the Fehs gracifis, preparatory to the description which has 

 been given in the First Number of the Zoological Researches, these different relations 

 occasioned me some perplexity. After carefully balancing its characters, and exhi-r 

 biting a tabular view of the genera Felis and Viverra, as defined by lUiger, to shew 

 at one view its relations to both these genera, I finally determined, by a prepon-- 

 derance of what appeared to me its natural character, to associate it with the genus 

 Felis. This indeed appeared to me more a family than a genus ; but the peculiarities 

 of the Felis gracilis made it necessary to construct and define a distinct section, for 

 which I proposed the name of Prionodontid^. When I discovered the Felis 

 gracilis in the forests of Blambangan, before I had considered the numerous subdi- 

 visions which the genus Viverra, as employed by Gmelin, requires, I included it in 

 that genus in a Catalogue of Mammaha, which I forwarded to England in the year 

 1812 ; but a more careful examination has convinced me that it cannot be separated 

 from Feline animals, however peculiar in some characters, without violating its 

 natural affinities. 



Having already stated that the discussion of the characters of the Mangusta 

 javanica almost insensibly led me to a reconsideration of those of the Felis gracilis, 

 I can now add, that several of the difficulties which presented themselves, when the 

 First Number of these Researches was prepared, in the classification of this animal, 

 from the existence of those characters which rendered it doubtful whether it be a 

 Felis or a Viverra, have in a great measure been removed by the views to which I 

 have been directed by the Horce Entomologicce of my learned and highly respected 

 friend, W. S. Macleay, Esq., in which, from an admirable extent of observation and 

 research, and with consummate originality, he has explained and illustrated the 



