60 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



as the ordinary Mierkat. They thrive well upon bread, 

 milk, raw meat and hard-boiled eggs. 



Herpestes pulverilentus. Small Grey Mongoose. 

 Klem Grys Kommetje Kat. 



This is a small edition of the Grey Mongoose, and is 

 principally fomid in the Cape Province. It is about the 

 same size as the Slender Mongoose. 



Herpestes albicauda {Ichneumia a.). White-tailed Mongoose. 

 Witstaart Kommetje Kat. 



This is a larger animal than the "Water Mongoose, but 

 with a more slender body. It is of a grey colour, with 

 the legs, from the elbow downwards, of a blackish hue, 

 The latter two-thirds of the tail is white. The length 

 of the animal varies from 22 inches to 24 inches. The 

 tail is another 16 inches. In Natal this species seem to 

 be common. The Zoo has had examples from Natal. 

 Tzaneen (Northern Transvaal), Pretoria District and 

 Barberton. 



In captivity it is the wildest and shyest of the Mon- 

 goose tribe, showing itself only at night. It w^ll eat 

 raw meat, and bread and milk. 



Little is known of its habits in a wild state. 



Herpestes gracilis. Slender Mojigoose. Booi Mierkat. 



This is a small slender little creature, of a grizzled 

 yellowish or reddish brown colour, with the limbs and 

 underparts generally paler than the back and sides. It 

 has a long black-tipped tail. Total length of body, 

 12 inches. Tail, 11 inches. 



This species has been split up by European naturalists 

 into several sub-species or geographical races, which 

 need not concern the beginner in Natural History nor 



