MUNGOOSES. 465 
under consideration, so the cynogale (for which there is no English name) presents 
us with a form adapted specially for a partially aquatic mode of life. 
This animal ( Cynogale bennetti ) is another inhabitant of the eastern part of the 
Oriental region, where the civet tribe attains its greatest and most peculiar develop¬ 
ment, being found in the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. 
In appearance the cynogale somewhat resembles a small otter, the muzzle being 
very broad and furnished with thick bristles, while the body is shorter and stouter 
than in other members of the family, and the tail unusually short, its total length 
being only some 6 inches, while that of the head and body is upwards of 24 inches. 
The toes of the feet are webbed at their bases, and are further remarkable for their 
shortness. The teeth are the same in number as those of the palm-civets, but the 
premolars have unusually tall crowns, apparently adapted for holding and biting 
the fish, upon which it largely subsists. 
According to Mr. Wallace, this animal is exceedingly rare in Borneo. Not 
only does it swim well and readily, but it is also said to be a ready climber. In 
addition to fish, crabs, etc., which form a considerable proportion of its diet, it 
is also reported to eat the flesh of such land animals as it can catch, and 
likewise various fruits. 
The Mungooses. 
Genus Herpestes, etc. 
Of late years the time-honoured name ichneumon, applied to the Egyptian 
representative of the group of civet-like animals, into the consideration of which 
we now enter, has been very generally rejected by zoological writers in favour of 
the term mungoose, the native Indian name for the Oriental species. 
Using, then, the latter term, the mungooses form a well-defined group of small 
civet-like animals, with very long and generally uniformly-coloured bodies and 
tails, which differ in several important characteristics from the members of the 
family hitherto noticed. A large number of the mungooses are included in the 
typical genus Herpestes , of which the range includes not only the African, but 
also the Indian and Malayan regions; and of which one species is found in Spain. 
The other mungooses come from Africa, which may thus be regarded as the head¬ 
quarters of the group. 
The mungooses differ from the members of the civet family yet described by 
several important modifications in the structure of the skull, into the consideration 
•of which it would be impossible to enter in the present work. It may be observed, 
however, that the socket of the eye (orbit) is very frequently surrounded by 
.a complete bony ring, while in all the forms hitherto noticed it is widely open 
behind; and that the teeth are always relatively tall, with sharp cusps adapted 
for a thoroughly carnivorous diet. Mungooses may be distinguished at a glance 
by their long straight claws, which are incapable of retraction, and are, therefore, 
always protruded, like those of a dog; and no mungoose ever has scent-glands 
•comparable to those so generally present among the true civets and palm-civets. 
So important are these differences that zoologists now divide the civet tribe 
vol. 1 . — 30 
