474 OX INDIAN CIVETS. 



recently Mr. Hodgson of Nipal mentions both these species as inhabit- 

 ants of the Tarai.f The species figured in Hardwicke's Illustrations as 

 Viverra bengalensis, Gray, seems to be V. vindica, Geof. It appears pro- 

 bable therefore that naturalists have fallen into a mistake in supposing 

 V. zibetta to be an inhabitant of India, i. e., Hindustan, and we shall 

 probably be able to account for the manner in which the error, if it be 

 one, has arisen. 



" In a collection of about 200 animals ol different kinds recently 

 formed by the plant collectors employed by our friend Mr. Griffith in 

 the Kasyah mountains, is an animal which corresponds partly with V. 

 zibetta, 6m. in the distribution of colour and size, but it has a shorter 

 tail with only six complete broad black rings, and a broad black band 

 passing below under the throat in addition to two black stripes on 

 either side of the neck. As this animal corresponds nearly with the 

 colour of the Zibeth, and is of the same size and form, we may pre- 

 sume that it has been supposed to be the same species. Without at- 

 tempting to describe this animal fully, we beg to offer a few more re- 

 marks regarding its peculiarities. 



" Throat white, with black band passing from the ear backwards 

 under the neck, a second interrupted black band on the side of the 

 neck, and a third passing along either side of the nape and descending 

 in front of the shoulder with a black streak along the spine, Jorming a 

 short mane. There are six broad black rings encircling the tail. Head 

 grey, with a dark spot on the base of the outer side of the external ear, 

 general colour grey, darker above than below. The sides are streaked 

 transversely, the streaks longitudinal on the hind quarters and 

 shoulders, becoming closer and darker on the limbs, which are nearly 

 black. The length of the tail is thirteen inches, length from the tail to 

 the snout two feet nine inches. Height about thirteen and a half 

 inches. 



" The tail of this animal is about the same length as that of V. 

 civetta, but the black rings which surround it are broader, and this last 

 peculiarity also removes it still farther from V. zibetta ; in which the 

 rings on the tail are more numerous and incomplete. It also differs from 

 V. civetta, in having a white throat, and from V. zibetta, in the neck 

 being crossed below by a black band. Should it prove a new species, as 

 we have no doubt it will, we trust that its name may be connected with 

 that of the distinguished botanist to whose liberality we are indebted 

 for the first knowledge of its existence ; and who, while employed him- 

 self in one extremity of India, can find means for supporting, and time 

 for organising establishments for collecting natural productions in 

 another. 



" The different animals of the Civet kind are in India called Catas ; 

 there is one in Bengal, probably V. indica, Geof., which is very common, 

 and has been know even to enter houses in Calcutta at night in search 



f lb. Proc. 26th Aug. 1834. 



