OEDEE OF OAENIVOEA. 419 



Although very fond of putrid flesh, the Hyenoidas do not make 

 it their exclusive aliment ; for they also feed on living prey, such 

 as Gazelles, Antelopes, &c. To pursue and capture these they 

 collect in troops, which are sometimes very numerous, and under 

 the direction of a chief, when they hunt with a unanimity and 

 cleverness unsurpassed by the best pack of Hounds. When the 

 game is taken they divide it equally ; but if any of the larger 

 Carnivore approach to take a share in the feast, all unite 

 against the intnider. This often happens with respect to the 

 Leopard, and even the Lion. 



Family of Viverridjs. — This family comprises Mammals 

 which differ much from one another in their general form 

 and external characteristics, some of them being plantigrade, 

 others more or less digitigrade, but all having as a common 

 feature two pairs of tubercular molar teeth in the upper jaw, and 

 a single one in the lower. They derive their denomination from 

 the word viverra, the Latin name for a Ferret. 



The principal representatives of this group are the Mangousts, 

 Civet, Genet, Cynogale, Ictides, Coati, Racoon, and Kinkajou, 

 or Potto. 



Genus Mangousts {Serpestes). — The Mangousts are small animals, 

 found in the warmest parts of Africa and Asia. They have a low 

 body and are vermiform in appearance, at the same time possess- 

 ing great rapidity of movement, so that they ajjpear rather to 

 crawl than run along the ground. Their tail is long, and thick 

 at the root. Their pelage, generally silky, is marked with 

 diversely-coloured rings, which give them a chequered aspect. 

 Their toes, five in number on all the limbs, are terminated 

 by claws, which are variable in length and slightly retractile 

 They have a tapering muzzle, and the tongue is covered with 

 horny papillae. Near the external orifice of their digestive tube 

 are situated two small pouches which secrete a musky substance. 



The Mangousts are semi-nocturnal ; they principally frequent 

 marshy localities, where reptiles are abundant, on which they 

 feed ; though they also attack the smaller mammals and birds. 

 They likewise search for the eggs of reptiles, and such birds as 

 build on the ground. They sometimes manage to gain access 

 to poultry-yards, when, like Ferrets and Weasels, they put all 



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