GENBTTA 447 



of palate short ; auditory bulla complete, its two divisions not 

 strongly contrasted in size and form ; dental formula : i ~, c ^ l , 

 pm f, m 2 ' 2 = 40 ; cheek-teeth trenchant. 



Remarks. — The genus Genetta, though practically confined to 

 Africa, extends its range into the Mediterranean region of Europe, 

 chiefly in Spain and the western portion of France. Many local 

 forms have been described, the status of which is imperfectly 

 understood. Three of these appear, on the basis of the insufficient 

 material seen, to be recognizable in Europe. 



KEY TO THE EUROPEAN FORMS OP GENETTA OENETTA. 



Spots in first three rows at side of dorsal stripe 

 tending to be confluent, and occupying more 

 space than light ground-colour in same region 



(Southern Prance) G. g. rhodauiea, p. 452. 



Spots in first three rows at side of dorsal stripe 



tending to be distinct, and occupying less space 



than light ground-colour in same region. 



Ground-colour of back a buffy grey ; largest spots 



about 20 mm. in diameter (Central and southern 



Spain) G. g. genetta, p. 451. 



Ground-colour of back a smoky grey ; largest spots 



about 30 mm. in diameter (Balearic Islands)... G. g. balearica, p. 452. 



GENETTA GENETTA Linnseus. 

 (Synonymy under subspecies.) 



Geographical distribution. — Iberian Feninsula, Balearic 

 Islands, and central France, north to Department of the Eure, 

 east to the valley of the Rhone ; probably in western Africa 

 also ; limits of range not known. 



Diagnosis. — General characters as in the genus ; size moderate 

 (head and body, about 550 ; tail, about 450 ; condylobasal length 

 of skull, about 90 mm.) ; colour light grey with black spots 

 arranged in longitudinal rows, the spots not tending to run 

 together except on back ; tail with distinct alternating rings of 

 black and light grey. 



External characters. — General form cat-like but rather more 

 slender, the tail about as long as body without head, the legs 

 moderately long, the ear large, higher than wide, the fur fine 

 and soft. Head moderately tapering, the muzzle somewhat 

 pointed ; ear rising conspicuously above fur, its general outline 

 oval, the upper border evenly rounded off, the anterior border 

 with a projecting basal angle, the posterior border with an 

 angular emargination somewhat below middle, the emargination 

 covered by a small rounded lobe arising from outer surface of 

 ear. Muzzle pad entirely naked, its surface finely granular, the 

 bare area extending downward as a narrow line dividing middle 

 of upper lip ; whiskers well developed, reaching beyond base of 

 ear when laid back. Feet cat-like, the digits short, armed with 



