EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF MONGOOSES. 



359 



Judging froBi the analogy supplied by other Carnivores, the 

 ancestral foot of the Mongooses -was pentadactyle and plantigrade, 

 and furnished T\-ith -well-developed interdigital webs and naked 

 soles. 



Text -figure 6. 



A. Right fore foot oi Bdeogale puisa. 



B. „ hind foot „ ,, 



C. ., ,, Ichneumia albicauda. 



D. „ fore foot ,, „ 



The feet of several of the genera conform to this type, and those 

 of Mungos may be taken as an illustration and as a standard 

 with which the feet of other genera may be compared. 



24* 



