806 



MK. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE 



[Nov. 12, 



that paper a few notes upon the Madagascai" Galidia, which is 

 the nearest ally of the present genns Galidictis. I have myself 

 particularly compared Galidictis with Genetta vulgaris, of which a 

 specimen happened to fall into my hands at the time that I was 

 studying the former. With regard to a number of the facts 

 which I describe in the present communication, there is nothing 

 recorded which allows of a careful comparison with other genera 

 of Herpestids. 



The Tongue shows a character found in certain Yiverridfe in 

 that toM'ards the free tip there is a patch of specially enlarged 

 conical papilla?. This patch does not reach the edge of the tongue 

 anywhere. 



As far as I can gather from Mivart's descrijDtions, this is 

 much like what is found in Galidia and certain Herpestines. 

 Dr. Mivart remarks that in the Genet there are no enlarged 

 papillse forming a patch upon the dorsum of the tongue. In Genetta 

 vulgaris the entire tongue is covered with papillse which are 

 quite as large as those forming the patch of enlarged papillse in 

 Galidictis. In the figure (text-fig. 210) illustrating the tongue an 

 isolated spine considerably magnified is shown. It will be seen 

 that there is a tendency tow&rds bifidity at the tip. 



Text-fig. 210. 





A. Fore part of Tongue of Galidictis striata. B. A single papilla from the 

 anteriorly situated patch of papillae in the same. 



The Stomach of Galidictis is, as it would appear, much like that 

 of Galidia ; for it is large and globular, with but a slightly pro- 

 jecting pyloric region. It contrasts with Genetta and Arctictis^ 

 which in these particulars are at the opposite extreme of the 

 series, with comparatively narrow stomachs and well developed, 



