440 VIVER&A POLIOCEPMALUS, 



The Weesel described shortly by BufTdn under 

 the name La Grande Marte de Guiane, is mention- 

 ed as a doubful species by Shaw. A well stuffed 

 specimen of this animal having been brought by 

 Mr Edmondston to England, I have described and 

 figured it. PI. XXIII. flig. 1. 



VIVERA POLIOCEPHALUS. 



Grey headed Weesel. 



Character. — V. corpore nigro ; capite colloque 

 griseis jugulo macula flavescenti angulari ni- 

 gro, margine circumscripta notato. 



Weesel with a black body ; head and heck dark 

 grey ; the throat marked with a yellowish an- 

 gular spot, edged with black. 



The habit of this animal is slender ; its limbs 

 longer than in most of the genus ; its claws and teeth 

 are uncommonly large. The canine teeth project 

 much from the upper jaw, and give the animal a 

 fierce appearance. The ears are prominent; the 

 eyes large. The hair of the whole trunk, the limbs 

 and the tail, is of a glossy black. That on the1| 

 tail is very full and long ; but the hair which co- 

 vers the head and neck, is dull, and of a dark iron- 

 grey colour. The disposition of the hair on the 

 neck is rather peculiar. From behind the ears 



