CONTINUED. 105 
stances of very minor importance when compared 
with the general characters of the organization. 
From the Ryz@na or Suricate, on the other hand, the 
dental system of the Cynictis differs in the presence 
of the superior rudimentary false molar, being thus 
directly intermediate, in point of dentition, between 
this genus and the Herpestes ; and it is not a little 
singular that it should bear precisely the same rela- 
tion to both these genera in the form and number of 
its toes. The Herpestes have rudimentary false 
molars both in the upper and under jaws, and five 
toes both before and behind ; the Cynictis has rudi- 
mentary false molars only in the upper jaw, five toes 
on the fore, and only four on the hind feet; the 
Ryzena has no rudimentary false molars in either 
jaw, and four toes only, as well on the anterior as on 
the posterior extremities. These traits of zoological 
character strongly point out the true natural rela- 
tions of all these animals, and demonstrate the rela- 
tive. positions which they occupy in the system of 
nature. With the single exception of the Proteles, 
there is no other known genus of the Viverra family 
which possesses the same number of toes and com- 
plete digitigrade extremities which form so promi- 
nent a character in the Cynictis. Here, however, all 
analogy ceases between these two genera. _ It is true 
that we are at present ignorant of the adult cha- 
racters of the dentition of the Proteles ; when we 
become better acquainted with this important part of 
