194 
GEOGRAPHICAL ZOOLOGY. 
[PART IV. 
with man in England, while another, as well as the allied Dinictis, 
has been found in the Mauvaises Terres of Nebraska, associated 
with Anchitherium and other extinct and equally remarkable 
forms, which are certainly Miocene if not, as some geologists 
think, belonging to the Eocene period. These facts clearly in- 
dicate that we have as yet made little approach to discovering 
the epoch when Eelidae originated, since the oldest forms yet 
discovered are typical and highly specialized representatives of 
a group which is itself the most specialized of the Carnivora. 
Another genus, Pseudcelurus , is common to the Miocene deposits 
of Europe and North America. 
Family 24— CKYPTOPBOCTIDiE. (1 Genus, 1 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Ne arctic 
Sub-regions. 
Pal^arctic 
Sub-regions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
Sub-regions. 
| 4 
The Cryptoprocta far ox, a small and graceful cat-like animal, 
peculiar to Madagascar, was formerly classed among the Viver- 
ridse, but is now considered by Professor Flower to constitute a 
distinct family between the Cats and the Civets. 
Family 2 5— VI VERBID M. (8-33 Genera, 100 Species.) 
General Distribution. 
Neotropical 
Sub-regions. 
Ne ARCTIC 
Sub-regions. 
PaLjEAROTIC 
Sub-regions. 
Ethiopian 
Sub-regions. 
Oriental 
Sub-regions. 
Australian 
SUB-REGIONB. 
— 
— 
— 2 
1 . 2 . 3 .4 
1 . 2 . 3 .4 
j 1 
The ViverridsB comprise, a number of small and moderate-sized 
carnivorous animals, popularly known as civets, genets, and 
ichneumons, highly characteristic of the Ethiopian and Oriental 
regions, several of the genera being common to both. A species 
of Genetta, and one of Herpestes, inhabit South Europe ; while 
Viverra extends to the Moluccas, but is doubtfully indigenous. 
The extreme geographical limits of the family are marked by 
