CONTINUED. 99 
immediately interposed between the Dogs and Ich- 
neumons, to the latter of which it bears a pretty 
close resemblance in external form and appearance. 
The name Cynictis, by which I propose to dis- 
tinguish this genus, is intended to express the double 
relation which it bears, on the one hand, to the Dogs, 
and to the Viverre generally on the other. The 
lees are. high, and completely digitigrade; the toes 
long and well separated from one another ; the claws 
long, curved, and moderately sharp, like those of the 
kindred genera Herpestes and Ryz@na; the forms 
of the head and body are likewise similar; but in 
the number of its toes, the Cynictis is intermediate 
between these two genera, there being five toes on 
the fore feet, and four only on the hind, a combination 
not found in any other genus of the Viverra family 
except the Proteles. The thumb, or inner toe of the 
fore feet, is placed considerably above the line of the 
other toes, asin the dogs and other completely Digi- 
tigrade Quadrupeds, and does not touch the ground 
when the animal stands or walks; the hind heel is 
very much elevated, and, as well as the metatarsus, 
completely covered with hair, the under part of the 
toes alone being naked and of a black colour. This 
part of the foot is divided into separate little pads 
or tubercles ; and there is a large one on the inner 
surface of the fore feet, considerably above the others, 
which does not come in contact with the ground in 
ordinary progression, but which, from its elastic 
H 2 
