MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 
wanting in adult subjects; the second and third have a small anterior, and a 
larger posterior heel ; and the fourth is more distended behind, and provided with 
two tubercles. In the character of the fifth grinder, the genus Mangusta is 
evidently distinguished from the genera with which it is connected by the relations 
of affinity — the genera Viverra and Ryzaena ; at the same time, it is obvious that 
the teeth generally are greatly compressed, and the anterior and posterior tubercles 
more developed than in Viverra. This peculiarity produces a strong analogy to the 
Felis gracilis, of the First Number of these Researches, which will be pointed out in 
the sequel This grinder greatly exceeds the others in size : it is provided with 
three high projecting points, two of winch occupy the anterior and external, and a 
third the middle and interior portion of the tooth ; of the former, the second is 
sharp, greatly projecting, and terminated exteriorly by a curved edge ; the interior 
point is acute, simple, and lower : the posterior part of the tooth consists of an 
abruptly abbreviated heel, formed for trituration, and directed to the sixth grinder, 
which is a small narrow tuberculous tooth provided with three distinct points. 
The head is conical, of moderate length, slightly depressed above, and terminated 
by an acute muzzle, wliich projects somewhat beyond the lower lip. The tongue 
is covered with long, sharp, homy tubercles. The eyes are provided with a 
nictitating membrane, which admits of being drawn entirely over them. The 
ears are naked and membranaceous internally, and provided with a narrow reflected 
auricle. Both the body and the neck have a slender form. The hairy covering is long 
on the body and tail, but short on the head and extremities : it is rigid and glossy, 
closely applied to the parts which it covers, and provided scantily at the base with 
a delicate down. The tail, in most species, equals the body in length : it is thick 
at the root, and gradually attenuated to a point. A very extensive pouch exists 
between the root of the tail and the organs of generation : it is formed by the 
common integuments being greatly distended, and disposed in folds, so as to pass 
over the anal aperture, and to cover it entirely. 
The Mangusta javanica belongs to the digitigrade animals, and its extremities 
are proportionally short. The feet are semi palmate, and provided both on the 
anterior and posterior extremities with five short compressed toes. Of these the 
two intermediate ones project beyond the small toe and the index, which are nearly 
of equal length, while the interior toe or thumb is so far removed from the other 
toes, as to be apparently of little use to the animal. The claws are of moderate 
length, greatly compressed, slightly curved, acute, fitted, agreeably to the habits 
of the animal, both for seizing its prey, and for burrowing the ground ; and, 
excepting that of the thumb, which is smaller, vary but little in size. The soles of 
the feet, and the adjoining inferior portion of the legs, are naked. 
