48 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



The mangouste of the Indies is celebrated for 

 his combats with the most dangerous serpents, 

 and by the fame of having made known the 

 virtue of the ophiorhiza mcngos against their bite. 



The Surikates, (Ryzjena, Iliger) 



Which have a strong resemblance to the mangoustes, 

 even to the very tints and transverse streaks of the 

 fur, but which are yet distinguished from them and 

 from all the Carnivora hitherto treated of, by having 

 only four toes on all the feet. Their pouches extend 

 into the anus like those of the preceding. 



But one species is known, a native of Africa, 

 {Viverra tetradactyla, Gm.) Buff., XIII. vui., some- 

 what smaller than the mangouste of India *. 



The last subdivision of the digitigrades has no 

 small teeth whatever behind the large molar below. 

 It contains the most cruel animals, and the most de- 

 idedly carnivorous of the whole class. There are 

 two genera: 



The Hyenas, (Hy^na, Storr.) 



Which have three false molars above and four below 

 all conical, blunt, and singularly thick and clumsy 

 The upper carnivorous tooth has a small tubercle 

 within, and in front. But the lower one has none 

 and presents only two strong trenchant points. This 

 powerful apparatus enables the hyaenas to break the 



* The Zenik of Sonnerat, deuxieme voy. pi. 92, does not seem to 

 differ from the Surikate but by being ill-drawn. 



