17 



Other forms of this group are here seen, the GENETTE, 

 the ICHNEUMONS, and others, all of which bear appropriate 

 labels. The Ichneumons are more familiar, from the fact 

 that they are used as rat exterminators, one species, the 

 MUNGOOS, being especially fitted for this purpose. Though 

 the body is long, and the animal is much heavier than a rat, 

 yet it is so very slender that it passes into holes with as 

 much ease as the latter. It is employed in the East as a 

 fighter of the poisonous serpent, the deadly cobra, singu- 

 larly escaping the fatal result from the bite of this venom- 

 ous reptile. 



The PAR ADO X UR E is represented by several species. 

 As in many other instances there is no common English 

 name for these animals. The only external feature of the 

 species which may be considered characteristic is the 

 singular twisted tail which appears abnormal, but is not so ; 

 and from this the name is derived. Twenty-seven genera 

 are included in the groups or sub-families Viverrinee and 

 I Icrpestimc. Many of the genera are here represented, and . 

 of the Herpes tineB there are numerous species in this collec- 

 tion. Sub-family Rhinogalidce embraces five African 

 genera. The Suricatk is one. 



GROUP 10 -The IIy.knas. Family Hyamidm. This is 

 one of the smallest families. It has a sub-family embracing 

 a genus called Proteles of one species, the Aard-Wolf, 

 inhabiting southern Africa, the affinities of which are be- 

 tween the civets and the hyaenas. Scarcely another animal 

 is so unfamiliar as this, it seldom being seen in collections. 



A single genus forms the family of hyzenas, of which 

 three species only are known: The STRIPED Hv.KNA {Hy- 

 tena striata), inhabiting northeastern Asia ; the SPOTTED 

 HY.ENA {Hyiena crocuta), inhabiting northern Africa, and 

 the Hyana brunnca found in South Africa. Externally hy- 

 aenas have the appearance of ugly dogs. 



GROUP 11.— The Dot;s, Family Canute. The do- 

 mestic dogs, wolves, and foxes comprise this family, 

 including three genera, with fifty-four species. 

 9 



