AARD WOLF, 117 
the hyznas, and in both genera this singular dis- 
proportion between the anterior and posterior extre- 
mities abridges the velocity properly due to their di- 
gitigrade conformation. It has been already observed 
that the only individuals of this genus which have 
been hitherto properly observed were young speci- 
mens, which had not acquired their adult dentition ; 
but it was sufficiently obvious to the experienced eye 
of M. Cuvier, who first examined them, that the 
dental system of the mature animal must very closely 
resemble, if it be not actually identical with, that of 
the civets and genets. ‘The young animal presented 
three small false molars, and one tuberculous teoth 
on each side both of the upper and under jaws; and 
we shall find, in the sequel, that the approxima~- 
tion of M. Cuvier is fully justified by the evidence of 
another accurate observer, who had an opportunity 
of examining this animal in its native regions. The 
genus Proteles contains but a single species, the 
Aard-wolf, or earth-wolf (Proteles cristata), so 
called by the European colonists in the neighbour- 
hood of Algoa Bay, in South Africa, the locality in 
which M. De Lalande procured his specimens of this 
animal. ‘The size of the Aard-wolf is about that of 
a full-grown fox, which it further resembles in its 
pointed muzzle; but it stands higher upon its legs, 
its ears are considerably larger and more naked, and 
its tail shorter and not so bushy. At first sight it 
might be easily mistaken for a young striped hyzena, 
so closely does it resemble that animal in the colours 
