T
TAB. XX.
V I V E R R A TETRADACTYLA.
CHARACTER GENERICUS.
Denies primores fex: intermecliis brevioribus.
Molares pkires quam tres.
Lingua retrorfum faspe aciileata.
Vngues exfeiti. LIN. SYST. NAT. p. 63.
CHARACTER SPECIFICUS, &c.
Viverra grlfea, roftro elongato fupra nigro, pedibus tetraclaftylis.
Viverra Suricatta. SCHKES. tab. 117.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Front teeth fix: the intermediate ones fliorter than the reft.
Grinders more than three on each fide.
Tongue frequently aculeated backwards.
ClaiDS exferted. LIN. SYST. NAT.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.
Grey Viverra with elongated fnout black above, with four-toed feet.
Surikate. BUFF.
F o u r - t o e d Weefel . PENNANT'S HIST. QUADR. p. 336.
it
THE Viverra tetradaftyla, or Surikate, is diftinguiilied by a long iliarp-pointed nofe, depreffed
head, and mflated cheeks. The upper jaw is much longer dian the lower, and on its upper
part IS black; the eyes are alfo furrounded by black: the ears are fmall and rounded: the
tongue oblong, blunt, and aculeated backwards: the length of the animal (exclufive of the
tail) IS about one foot, and the tail is about eight inches long: the legs are (hort: the claws on
the fore-feet much exceed in length thofe of the hind-feet. The general colour of the animal
IS grey or deep hoary: the tail fubferruginous, and tipped with black. The Surikate is an inhabitant
of the Cape of Good Hope, where it i., called Meer-rat. It feeds on flefli, and preys
on micc and other fmall animals: it commonly fits ereft in the manner of a fquirrel, and, when
lilcafed, makes a raiding noife with its tail, for which reafon the Dutch inhabitants of the Cape
of Good Hope call it Kiapper-maus. It is alfo found in the ifland of Java, where it is named
Surikatje by the Dutch. In its having only four toes it forms an exception to the generality
of the Weefel tribe. It is an animal of a fomewhat capricious diipofition, and, when taken
and kept in a domeftic ftate, attaches itfelf with much appearance of aifcftion to particular
peifons, and is as highly diljileafed at others.
II i
I '
If't