412 CLASS MAMMALIA, 



Egypt, none but the striped species are known, (Bruce's 

 large Hyaena being, in all probability, merely a great indi- 

 vidual,) and, it is said, they are as big in Barbary ; but 

 however erroneously modern Zoologists may, in some cases, 

 have located the spotted species in northern Africa and 

 western Asia, contrary to better observation and authority, 

 it is still very unaccountable, says Cuvier, how it came 

 to be represented in an ancient manuscript of Oppian. 

 Chance could hardly have induced so singular a coincidence. 



We now proceed to notice two new sub-genera of mammi- 

 ferous animals ; first the Paradoxurus of the Baron Cuvier 

 and his brother; and, secondly, the Prionodon of Dr. 

 Horsfield. 



The type under which M. F. Cuvier describes this new 

 genus is the Poiigoune, a name modified from its Malabar 

 appellation of Pounougar-Poune, that is, Civet Cat, (Pa- 

 radoxurus typus, Cuv.) This animal has been long known to 

 naturalists. It was described by Buffon and Daubenton, 

 under the erroneous name of Genette de France ; but of the 

 true nature of it, we have been, till lately, in great igno- 

 rance. It is the Palm Marten of M. Lechenault. 



To form a correct estimate of the real peculiarities of 

 this animal, it seems quite necessary to observe it during 

 life, as its skin and skeleton are very similar to those of the 

 preceding sub-genera. 



But however allied to the Civets, Genets, and Man- 

 goustes, this animal, and its congeners, may be in certain 

 of its organs, it differs from them nevertheless, not only in 

 parts of its external form, which may or may not have an 

 influence on the character of the animal, but also by modi- 

 fications, which must necessarily, arguing from analogy , have 

 a strong and decided effect on its character. Indeed, when 

 seen alive, it is said to be easily recognised as distinct from 

 those groups to which it is more or less assimilated. 



