EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OP MONGOOSES. 



353 



semicircular, and set well back and low down on the head, but it 

 is of a much simpler type than in other genera. There is no 

 lamina above the supratragus, and the latter is a simple thickened 

 ridge. In other respects the ear resembles that of the rest of the 

 genera of Mongooses, differing from the ear of all the Yiverridse 

 in the absence of the bursa and the high position of the pro- 

 minence of the antero-internal ridge above the antitragus. 

 Amongst the ViverridsB, the Galidictine * genera are those 

 which in the structure of the ear come nearest to Suricata. 



Text-fiffure 2. 



A. Head of Arielafasciata, from a fresli specimen, with ear closed. 

 13. „ Crossarchus ohscurus, „ „ „ „ 



(Both f natural size.) 



The ear of Sttricata, in spite of the absence of the two movable 

 laminte, is capable of being closed as tightly as in other members 

 of this group, the supratragal ridge assuming an oblique direction 

 and being pressed against the antero-internal ridge when the ear 

 is folded. That being so, it is difficult to understand the reason 

 for the development of the two laminae in the typical Mongooses. 

 I think, however, it is probable that the close folding of the ear 

 is an adaptation to the known burrowing habits of this group, 



* Ami. Mag, Nat. Hist. (8) xvi. p. 354, pi. xv. fig. 4>, 1915. 



