140 
MR.  E.  T.  BENNETT'S  NOTICE  OF  CRYPTOPROCTA. 
flat,  tlie  inner  is  much  smaller,  and  is  considerably  lower  in  the  crown  than  the  outer. 
Behind  this  is  a  closed  cavity  in  the  jaw,  evidently  containing  the  rudiment  of  a  fifth, 
or  second  tubercular,  molar  tooth.  In  the  lower  jaw  the  six  incisors  are  nearly  of  equal 
size,  the  outer  one  on  each  side  being  acute  at  its  top.  The  canine  adjoins  the  external 
incisor  ;  is  more  than  twice  its  length,  strong  and  broad  at  the  base,  narrower  upwards, 
and  ciu^'ed  somewhat  backwards.  Two  false  molars  succeed,  placed  close  to  each 
other,  similar  to  those  of  the  upper  jaw,  and  separated  by  a  small  interval  from  the 
canine  anteriorly  and  the  third  molar  posteriorly.  The  third  molar  has  four  acute 
tubercles  succeeding  each  other  longitudinally ;  the  first  is  small  and  short,  ranging 
scai'cely  higber  than  the  second  false  molar ;  the  second,  much  stronger,  and  twice  the 
length  of  the  first ;  the  third,  corresponding  nearly  with  the  first,  and  separated  by  a 
notch  from  the  fourth,  which  is  small  and  much  lower.  The  fourth  molar  has  also  four 
sharp  tubercles,  of  which  the  first  two  are  strong  and  cutting,  the  second  bemg  the 
largest,  and  having  behind  it  and  somewhat  internally  the  third,  which  is  small  and 
acute  ;  the  fourth  resembles  the  fourth  tubercle  of  the  third  molar.  An  enlargement 
of  the  bone  behind  this  tooth  shows  that  the  pulp  of  a  fifth  molar  is  inclosed  within 
the  jaw. 
Mv.  Telfair  states  that  this  animal  was  sent  to  him  lately  from  the  interior  and 
southern  part  of  Madagascar,  and  that  he  has  not  seen  in  Mauritius  any  of  the  Mada- 
gascar people  that  were  acquainted  with  it.  He  remarks,  "It  is  the  most  savage 
creature  of  its  size  I  ever  met  with :  its  motions  and  power  and  activity  were  those  of 
a  tiger :  and  it  had  the  same  appetites  for  blood  and  destruction  of  animal  life.  Its 
muscular  force  was  very  great,  and  the  muscles  of  the  limbs  were  remarkably  full  and 
tliick.    It  lived  with  me  for  some  months." 
In  conclusion  I  may  add,  that  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  Cryptoprocta  ferox  may  be 
identical  with  the  animal  described  and  figured  by  M.  F.  Cuvier,  in  the  '  Memoires  du 
Museum  d'Histoire  Naturelle'',  as  a  species  of  Paradoxurus,  with  the  trivial  name  of 
aureus  ;  the  anal  pouch,  which  distinguishes  it  from  Paradoxurus,  having,  perhaps,  been 
overlooked  by  that  distinguished  zoologist.  The  colours,  form,  and  proportions  appear 
to  be  the  same.  M.  F.  Cuvier's  specimen  was  young,  though  not  so  young  as  the  one 
in  the  Society's  Museum :  the  country  from  which  it  was  obtained  was  not  recorded. 
'  Tom.  ix.  p.  46.  tab.  4,  fig.  inf. 
PLATE  XXI. 
Cryptoprocta  ferox. 
