MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 
name Genetta would be properly applied. Of the other animals enumerated by 
Gmelin under the genus Viverra, the classification, as well as the existence, remains 
to be confirmed. 
Of the various genera here enumerated, Potos, (or Cercoleptes), Gulo, and 
Mephitis, are Plantigrada ; to these later discoveries have added two others, which, 
according to the views of Gmelin, would likewise have been associated with the 
multifarious genus Viverra, namely, Mydaus and Paradoxurus of Frdd. Cuvier. 
But my object in detailing these genera, is to add a few remarks on those 
animals which belong to the family of Digitigrada, in so far as they illustrate the 
affinity of Mangusta. Although these animals agree generally in the structure of 
their teeth, an examination of the relative development of their grinders, parti- 
cularly of the carnassiers of Fred. Cuvier, (the ckeicing grinders of Fleming,) sug- 
gests the following arrangement, viz. Genetta, Viverra, Ryzaina, and Mangusta. I 
have before me for this comparison, from the splendid museum of Joshua Brookes, 
Esq., a very perfect skull of Genetta and of Viverra, as above defined, with the 
skull of the Mangusta javanica, extracted from the specimen, the figure of which 
illustrates this article. In the Genetta, which lives in part, and often almost entirely, 
on vegetable food, the points of the carnivorous teeth are short and strongly 
rounded, and the tuberculous teeth, by the obtuseness of their points, indicate that 
they are comparatively much used in mastication. In Viverra, the habits of which 
are more exclusively carnivorous, the points of the posterior grinders are lengthened 
and acute, and the points of the tuberculous teeth are likewise more prominent. 
The fifth grinder in the lower jaw illustrates the character of these animals in the 
strongest manner. A very evident development of this tooth shews itself in 
Viverra; and, as far as I can judge from description alone, it is still greater in 
Suricata or IlyzBena; but in Mangusta, the points of this tooth exhibit a great 
elongation and acuteness ; and this character, a development of the points of the 
teeth, is observed in a proportionate degree in all the grinders. In Mangusta a 
character and disposition strictly and exclusively carnivorous, exist in a liigher 
degree than in Suricata, Viverra, or Genetta : and we find, in accordance with this, 
the carnivorous teeth and the grinders generally more acute and lengthened 
The examinations connected with the description of the Mangusta javanica, and 
the comparisons which I instituted among the numerous genera above mentioned, 
naturally suggested a reconsideration of the Felis gracilis, which was described in 
the first Number of these Researches : and as the most rigorous comparisons and 
examinations have confirmed my original views, regarding the natural affinity of 
this animal, I shall now concisely detail their result. 
