FOSSA. 
449 
cheek-teeth than any of the existing cats, the premolar teeth being never less 
than three—and very frequently four—on each side of both the upper and 
lower jaws. Moreover, with the single exception of the above-mentioned 
species from Madagascar (which is at once distinguished from all the cats by 
the presence of four premolar teeth), the civets always have two molar teeth 
in the lower jaw—that is to say, there is a tooth behind the lower flesh-tooth. 
Further, in nearly all cases there are also two molar teeth in the upper jaw and 
behind the flesh-tooth ; these molar teeth (as shown in the accompanying figure of 
the upper jaw of the Indian 
civet) being generally of large 
size, and thus very different from 
the single small upper molar of 
the cats. With the above- 
mentioned exception, the upper 
flesh-tooth has but two lobes to 
the blade ; while the lower flesh- 
tooth has a large tubercular heel 
behind the cutting blade. As a 
general rule, their feet have four 
toes; but in some cases the first 
toe (thumb) may be wanting in 
the fore-feet, in others the corresponding toe may be absent in the hind-feet, while 
in others, again, both fore and hind-feet may be four-toed. Then, again, while in 
some forms the claws can be withdrawn into sheaths as completely as in the cats, 
in others they are but partially retractile; this difference depending, as pointed 
out by Mr. Blanford, to a great extent as to whether the animals walk on their 
toes (digitigrade), or on the soles of their feet (plantigrade). 
None of the civets attain large dimensions; and they are chiefly characteristic 
of Africa, Madagascar, and South-Eastern Asia, only two species entering the 
southern parts of Europe. 
THE LEFT HALF OF THE UPPER JAW OF THE INDIAN CIVET. 
To show the form and number of the teeth. The fourth tooth 
from the left side of the figure is the tusk, or canine ; and the 
third tooth from the right side the flesh-tooth, or last premolar; 
the two teeth behind the latter being the molars. (From the 
Palceontologia Tndica .) 
The Fossa. 
Genus Cryptoprocta. 
The fossa of Madagascar, which is the largest Carnivore found in that island, 
is the species already alluded to as connecting the more typical members of the 
present family with the cats. This peculiar animal differs, indeed, so remarkably 
from all the other representatives of the civet tribe, that it has been considered by 
some that it ought to be referred to a separate family; but in most features it 
agrees so essentially with the civets that this view is now generally discarded by 
zoologists. 
The fossa (Cryptoproctet j’erox) is a nearly uniformly-coloured animal, with 
short and thick pale brown fur; and it attains a total length of about 5 feet from the 
snout to the tip of the tail, the length of the tail being more than three-quarters 
that of the head and body. The curved claws are sharp and retractile; and the 
vol. i. — 29 
