CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIYORA. 18t 
THE STRIPED GALIDICTIS. 
Genus GALIDICTIS, Galidictis, presents two species, also of Madagascar.- The G. striata is 
! distinguislied \>j its coloring, wliicli consists of brown bands or stripes on a ligbt yellowish 
! ground. Tlie body is ten inches long, and the tail long and bushy. The G. vittata is described 
I by Dr. Thomson, who possessed one for six months, as diurnal in its habits and agile and 
graceful in its movements. In the native country of these creatures, they live in the woods, and 
devour nuts, insects, etc. ; they often approach the houses, and make great havoc in the poultry- 
yards. Like the weasel tribe, they kill their victims, and gorge themselves by drinking their 
' blood. 
THE OAJ^IDJE. 
The family of Canidce^ from canis, a dog, embraces four genera ; the Cynhyene, including the 
' Hyena-Dog ; the Canis, including the Dog, Wolf, and Jackal ; the Vtdpes, including the Fox and 
Fennec ; and the Otocyon. Formerly the Hyena was included in the same group, but for good 
• reasons, naturalists now give it a separate place. In this family, all the species of which are 
digitigrade and highly carnivorous, the head is more or less conical and pointed in front, from 
the jaws being somcAvhat produced ; the legs are of equal length, the anterior being furnished 
with five, and the posterior with four toes, all armed with non-retractile claws. The tail is of 
moderate length, and more or less tufted with hair. The senses are acute, that of scent being 
developed in great perfection. The dentition is complicated : there are three false molars on 
each side in the upper, and four in the lower jaw; these gradually increase in size posteriorly, 
and approach the true molar in form. The latter is very large, compressed, and cutting, and is 
followed in both jaws by two small tubercular teeth ; the total number of molars is six above 
and six below, although this is variable in the dogs. The tongue is soft, and destitute of horny 
' spines. 
Genus CYNHYElSrE : the Cynihymna of Cuvier. — Of this genus there is a single species, the 
Cynhyxna pinctus, which is found from CafFraria to Abyssinnia. It is nearly of the size of the 
• wolf, but of inferior weight and strength. Its dentition is that of the dog, but it is distinguished 
by having only four toes on each foot. The jaws are large and the legs long ; the colors are 
. brown, yellow, and white, circularly disposed in patches, so as to have a very mottled appearance — 
I these markings varying in different individuals. This animal was at first supposed to be a hyena, 
^ and was consequently called the Painted Hyena : its common appellation is the Hyena-Dog, it 
having a closer semblance to the canine species than to any other. It hunts the antelope and 
