420 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



plication of names, it is equally necessary, on the other, 

 to avoid a commixture of species essentially different, and 

 separated, however slightly, yet effectually, by the hand of 

 nature herself. 



In the number of toes on the hind feet, and of the teeth, 

 as well as in the form of the head and body, the Delundung 

 resembles the Viverrae, but the character of the claws, and 

 peculiar structure of the teeth, indicate an affinity to the 

 Felinae. Altogether, therefore, the animal is neither, and 

 is properly separated from both. 



The Felinae and the Viverrae have the incisive teeth of 

 the same number, and alike. In this the Delundung 

 agrees with both, nor does there appear any essential dif- 

 ference in respect to the canine teeth of the three. The 

 Cats have three or four cheek-teeth above, and three below ; 

 the Viverrae have six ; the Delundung differs from both, in 

 having five above, and six below. The eye-pupil in the 

 first genus is, in some species, circular, in others, oblong ; 

 in the Viverrae it is elongated transversely, and in the 

 Delundung it is circular. 



In the ears and form of the body, the former short and 

 round, the latter long and low, the Delundung diverges 

 from the Cats in approaching the Viverrae, and inthe number 

 of toes the same thing occurs, the Felinae being pentadac- 

 tylous before, and tetradactylous behind ; the Delundung 

 and the Viverrae having five toes on all the feet. The cha- 

 racter of the tongue, whether soft or aculeated, and the 

 number and situation of the mammae, in the Delundung, 

 are not known ; and the non-existence of an anal pouch, or 

 anal folliculi, in the Delundung, is asserted, by its de- 

 scriber, with a mark of doubt. 



The ground colour of the animal may be said to be a 

 pale yellowish-white, but there are various large spots or 

 patches of a rich deep-brown over the back, with smaller 

 spots of the same size on the sides and thighs ; and the tail 



