106 DESCRIPTION 
its organization, we may perhaps discover additional 
points of relation between it and the present genus ; 
but in all its most striking external characters it is 
completely different and seems to occupy an inter- 
mediate station between the Dogs, the Crvets, and 
the Hyenas. 
“Tn addition to these characters, the Cynictis may 
be readily distinguished by its external form and 
appearance from all conterminous genera. It has 
a short head, contracted suddenly in front of the 
eyes, and forming a small naked muzzle, divided by 
a longitudinal furrow ; the ears are short and elliptical, 
naked inside, and directed forwards; the body long 
and slender; the tail bushy, and two-thirds of the 
Jength of the body, and the whole external form and 
appearance not unlike that of a Ferret or Ichneu- 
mon. ‘The temporal foss@ are separated from the 
orbits by a complete rim of bone. 
“I propose to distinguish the animal which has 
given rise to these observations, by the specific name 
of Cynictis Steedmannii, in compliment to Mr. 
Steedman, to whose enterprise we are indebted for 
our knowledge of this unique species. ‘The follow- 
ing are the principal dimensions of this animal, 
taken from the skin, and measured along the 
curvatures. il 
Ft. In, 
Length of the head from the muzzle to the root 
of the ear e ° - +O 
Length ofthe ear . oe ce 0 
ako wie 
