2. HEHPE8TES. 147 



two species are very similar ; biit the teeth of II. coffer are consider- 

 ably loT)gor, stronger, and rather ^Wder proportionately, especially 

 the tubercular teeth. Length of skull 4 inches ; width at zygomatic 

 arch 2^ inches, of middle of brain-case 1^ inch. Lower jaw very 

 shelving in front, with a prominence on the lower edge under the 

 end of the tooth-line ; false grinders |- ; tubercular moderate, oblong, 

 with two anterior lateral and one larger posterior prominence. 



The great difference between the skulls of tliese two species, 

 which are so like externally, should act as a caution to naturalists, 

 who complain so frequently that species are often separated on too 

 slight external characters. Teraminck, for example, would unite 

 H. ichneumon, II. caffer, and H. W iddrinc/tonii as one species, and at 

 most only as "permanent local varieties," whatever those may be. 



3. Herpestes dorsalis. 



" Back with a narrow, moderately distinct, golden-yellow stripe 

 from nose to tip of tail, and another on each side of the face, which 

 diverges from the fi-ont, passes over the eyes, and terminates on the 

 side of the head. 



Ichneumon pliaraonis, var., A. Smith, S. A. Q. J. p. 49. 



" Huh. South Africa. 



" Length -head and body 18 inches; tail 15 inches (not adult)." 



4. Herpestes Widdringtonii. B.M. 



Like II. pharaonis ; but fur shorter, under-fur more abundant and 

 longer, giving the animal a reddish tint ; tail pencilled, distinct, but 

 shorter. 



Herpestes Widdringtouii, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. ix. p. 49, 1842 ; 

 P. Z. S. 1864, p. 549. 



Hub. South of Europe ; Sierra Morena ( Widdrimjton). 



5. Herpestes nmnidianus. B.M. 



Like H.ichneumonyhut blacker ; the rings of the hairs very chstinct ; 

 throat, legs, and feet black. 



Herpestes numidianus, F. Cuvier, Mamm. Lith. t. ; Verreaujc, MS. ; 

 Graij, P. Z. S. 18G4, p. 550. 



Ilab. ]>\ixmidia (Verr£hnx). (jo^^f^^'- ^Cv-L.-* — . 



H. Herpestes madagascariensis. 



" Hair of the head, throat, breast, bcUv, and lower part of the 

 extremities short, that of the other parts longer. The colour of the 

 upper and lateral parts of head and of lower parts of extremities 

 brown-red, f^dy speckled with black and white ; the upper and 

 lateral part^^rthe neck, bodj-, and the whole of the tail specltled, 

 being black, brown-red, and pale reddish white, each hair annulated 

 with these three colours, which are darkest upon the back ; throat 



l2 



