Natural History of South Africa. 437 



Mangusta Urinatrix, mihi. 



M. subnigra aut nigro-fusca; crinibus dor si et caudcB ferh ad apicemj 

 etiamque totius capitis^ circuits coloris subruhri aut subalbidi varie- 

 gatis; caudd attenuatd apice simplici aciito. 



Colour of upper parts inclined to black or blackish brown, with most 

 of the hairs having one or more broad circles of reddish white; under 

 parts of the same general colour, but with few of the variegations just 

 mentioned. On the sides of the head the dark and light colours are 

 nearly in equal proportions; on the centre the latter is rather less 

 abundant, as is also the case on the chin and beginning of the throat. 

 Head rather broad behind, muzzle narrow, nose blackish brown, irides 

 cinnamon coloured, pupils transverse: toes very long, slender, and 

 almost without fur; claws dark, inclined to black; ears rounded and pro- 

 jecting but little beyond the hair. Length from nose to root of tail, 

 one foot five inches; from root to tip of tail, thirteen inches; the latter 

 tapers to a slender point, but is thick and bushy towards its origin. Inha- 

 bits marshy spots, as well as the banks of the smaller rivers, throughout 

 the whole of South Africa; and in search of its food, which is frogs, 

 crabs, &c., it is very often observed to dive under water and remain there 

 for several minutes together. Appears to have considerable affinity to 

 the Mangusta Javanica of Horsfield* but differs therefrom in its 

 resorts, &c. 



Mangusta Le Vaillantii, mihi. 



M, supra rubro-fulva, pilis fuscis et nigricantibus intermixtis varie- 

 gata; infrd subfalva; apice caudcB albo. 



Colour throughout reddish yellow inclining to chesnut, with the upper 

 parts in particular slightly variegated by an intermixture of brown and 

 blackish hairs; tail of the same colour, with the exception of the tip 

 which is pure white. Eyes reddish brown ; pupils transverse. Length 

 from tip of nose to root of tail, one foot five inches ; length of the tail, 

 about ten inches. This species is common throughout the whole of 



* Zoological Researches in Java and the neighbouring Islands, by T. Hors- 

 field, M. D., F. L. S., M. G.S., 4to., London, 1824. 



