a80 REPORT OF THE HARVARD AFRICAN EXPEDITION 
CARNIVORA 
MUSTELIDAE Weasels, Martens, Otters 
Lutra maculicollis Lichtenstein. River Otter; ‘“Bush Dog” 
Lutra maculicollis Lichtenstein, Arch. f. Naturgesch., vol. 1, p. 89, 1835: Kaffirland, South Africa. 
The large brown otter, with well-developed claws on allfour feet; the throat and belly are 
whitish. Africa. 
Otters occur along the streams of Liberia and we saw a number of imperfect 
skins in the possession of natives. At Gbanga we found a large burrow under 
the roots of a great tree on the overhanging bank of a small stream in the forest 
which evidently was an otter’s hole. Curious whining sounds from within 
evidenced the presence of young but although the adults eluded our traps, 
two very small young brought in to us soon after, on September 23, may have 
come from the same burrow. Their eyes were not yet open, and in color they 
were a buffy gray, slightly darker about the eyes. A similar one was shown us 
early in the month, by the commander of the local garrison, who was trying 
to bring it up as a pet. 
Aonyx capensis (Schinz). Clawless Otter 
Lutra capensis Schinz, Cuv. Thierreich, vol. 1, p. 214, 1821: Cape region, South Africa. 
A small clawless otter; general color, brown, the hairs tipped minutely with whitish; sides of 
head, and the throat whitish. Africa south of the Sahara. 
We saw nothing of this otter, though Buttikofer and his associates brought 
back specimens, and from the number of skins seen in the hands of natives, 
concluded that it was fairly common along the streams of Liberia. During 
the time of our visit, the waterways were too full to allow of much search for 
tracks along the banks. 
VIVERRIDAE Civets, Mongooses 
Civettictis civetta (Schreber). The Civet 
Viverra civetta Schreber, Siugthiere, vol. 3, p. 419, pl. 111, 1778: Guinea, ete. 
When adult, about 1300 mm. long, of which the tail is about 840; facial mask, feet, two narrow 
stripes from base of ear to sides of neck, a median black line from shoulders to tail, and the tail, 
black; inner sides of ears buff, body ominnled blackish and buff, the markings on the feats running 
to some five or six indistinct alternating bands of grayish andl black. Africa south of the desert, 
Although the Civet of eastern Africa has been regarded as a distinet race 
and has been given the name Viverra civetta orientalis by Matschie, this name 
is preoccupied by Viverra orientalis of Hodgson (Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist., 
vol. 2, p. 47, 1841) for an Indian species and has lately been replaced by schwaret 
Cabrera. In Liberia Bittikofer secured specimens at Robertsport, Bavia, and 
on the Junk and the Du rivers. <A very young one was brought to us at Chance 
on September 25, but otherwise we did not meet with it. 
