MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 
degree acuminated, which contributes, with their other characters, to give them a 
physiognomy essentially different from that of Feline animals. 
From these details it appears, that although the Felis gracilis agrees with the 
Mangusta javanica in the structure of the grinders, particularly of those in the lower jaw, 
it is in other respects entirely different, as well from this animal, as from Viverrine ani- 
mals generally; while, with a slight modification of characters, it agrees with the Feline 
animals hitherto known, particularly in the general physiognomy, in the structure 
and disposition of the feet and claws, in the absence of an anal pouch, in a cylin- 
drical tail, and even in the external marks on the skin. We have thus an agree- 
ment in one character, or a relation of analogy, while in the aggregate of the other 
characters, which should regidate us in the classification of the animal, we have an 
indication of its relations of affinity. 
When I examined the Felis gracilis, preparatory to the description which has 
been given in the First Number of the Zoological Researches, these different relations 
occasioned me some perplexity. After carefully balancing its characters, and exhi- 
biting a tabular view of the genera Felis and Viverra, as denned by Illiger, to shew 
at one view its relations to both these genera, I finally determined, by a prepon- 
derance of what appeared to me its natural character, to associate it with the genus 
Felis. This indeed appeared to me more a family than a genus ; but the peculiarities 
of the Felis gracilis made it necessary to construct and define a distinct section, for 
which I proposed the name of Piiionodontid^. When I discovered the Felis 
gracilis in the forests of Rlambangan, before I had considered the numerous subdi- 
visions which the genus Viverra, as employed by Gmelin, requires, I included it in 
that genus in a Catalogue of Mammalia, which I forwarded to England in the year 
1812; but a more careful examination has convinced me that it cannot be separated 
from Feline animals, however peculiar in some characters, without violating its 
natural affinities. 
Having already stated that the discussion of the characters of the Mangusta 
javanica almost insensibly led me to a reconsideration of those of the Felis gracilis, 
I can now add, that several of the difficulties which presented themselves, when the 
First Number of these Researches was prepared, in the classification of this animal, 
from the existence of those characters which rendered it doubtful whether it be a 
Felis or a Viverra, have in a great measure been removed by the views to which I 
have been directed by the Hor& Entvmologica of my learned and highly respected 
friend, W. S. Macleay, Esq., in which, from an admirable extent of observation and 
research, and with consummate originality, he has explained and illustrated the 
