526 CARNIVORA 
in the existing animals belonging to this family seem to arrange 
themselves mainly into two tolerably distinct groups, distinguish- 
able by the characters of the auditory bulla and neighbouring parts 
of the base of the skull, and by the structure of the feet. The one 
form has the genus /iverra or Civet Cats for its most typical repre- 
sentative, and the other Herpestes or the Ichneumons. 
Subfamily Viverrine.—Auditory bulla oval, or rather conical, 
broad and truncated and not everted behind, narrow in front ancl 
more or less compressed at the sides. The outer or anterior 
chamber very small and flat. The meatus with scarcely any 
inferior lip, its orifice being close to the tympanic ring. Par- 
occipital process triangular, its apex projecting slightly beyond the 
bulla. Claws strongly curved and more or less retractile. Perineal 
scent-glands generally present. 
This subfamily includes both Ethiopian and Oriental forms, but 
the former are the more numerous. 
The typical section, which includes five yenera, has the follow- 
ing characters. Dentition: 7 3,¢ 4, p 4, m 3 (4 in Prionodon) - 
total 40. Skull elongated ; facial portion small and compressed. 
Orbits well-defined but incomplete behind. Teeth always sectorial, 
never very small. Vertebre: C 7, D 13, L 7 (or D 14,L 86), 
5 3, C 22-30. Body elongated and compressed. Head pointed in 
front; ears rather small. Extremities short. Feet small and 
rounded. ‘Toes short, five on each foot. First toe both on fore 
and hind feet much shorter than the others. Palms and soles 
covered with hair, except the pads of the feet and toes, and in 
some species a narrow central line on the under side of the sole, 
extending backwards nearly to the heel. Tail moderate or long ; 
usually marked with dark and light rings. A pair of large glandular 
follicles situated on the perineum (in both sexes), and secreting in 
most species an oily substance of a peculiarly penetrating odour, 
The numerous species of this section form a large series, the 
two extremes of which differ considerably, but the several genera 
into which they may be divided blend so into one another that it is 
difficult to differentiate them sharply. 
All the animals of this section are, for their size, extremely 
active, fierce, and rapacious. They feed. chiefly on small mammals 
and birds. 
Virerra.—This includes the largest species. The teeth (Fig. 
232) are stouter and less compressed than in the other genera ; the 
second uppermolar being especially larger. The auditory bulla smaller 
and more pointed in front. Body shorter and stouter: limbs 
longer ; tail shorter, tapering. Under side of tarsus completely 
covered with hair. Claws longer and less retractile. Fur rather 
_ long and loose, and in the middle line of the neck and back usually 
4 Linn. Syst. Vat. 12th ed. vol. i. p. 63 (1766). 
