248 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



more) than half the length. Length of head and body, 22 to 

 23 inches ; of tail, 18 to 19 inches. 



Distribution. — Africa south of the Sahara. The present species 

 and the closely allied H. ichneumon are readily distinguished 

 from all the other African representatives of the genus by their 

 large size and long black tail-tips. With regard to the propriety 

 of considering them as specifically distinct from one another, 

 Mr. Thomas writes: "I was at first disposed to regard them 

 as only races of one species, as Temminck had done ; but I 

 have found such a constancy in their distinguishing characters 

 that, combined with the fact of their ranges being in different 

 zoological regions, I have been induced to retain them as dis- 

 tinct species. There is no doubt, however, that they are very 

 closely allied ; but when we remember how very distinct are 

 the faunas of the southern Palaearctic and Ethiopian regions, 

 scarcely any species being common, it would naturally seem 

 preferable to consider as distinct two forms so fairly well- 

 marked as are H. ichneumon and H. caffer, when the line of 

 demarcation between them so exactly corresponds with what 

 is generally recognised as the boundary between two zoological 

 regions." 



Habits.— The habits of this species may be taken as charac- 

 teristic of the genus generally, and may consequently be 

 noticed at some length. None of the Mungooses are arboreal; 

 and they generally dwell in holes in the earth, among bushes, 

 or in hedgerows, being seldom found in thick forest. Their 

 diet includes the smaller Rodent Mammals, Birds and their 

 eggs, as well as Snakes, Lizards, and Frogs ; while the Egyptian 

 Mungoose, at least, devours large numbers of Crocodiles' eggs, 

 on which account it has always been held in high estimation by 

 the inhabitants of the Nile Delta. In many parts of Africa the 

 Caffre Mungoose is kept in captivity for the purpose of killing 

 Rats, Mice, and other vermin ; the same being the case in 



