MELLER 5 S MUNGOOSE. 2] I 



Distribution. — Cape Colony and Orange Free State. 



HaMts — This Mungoose is an inhabitant of dry sandy dis- 

 tricts, in which it burrows holes where it reposes during the 

 night, while in the daytime it is abroad, engaged either in 

 hunting for the mice and birds on which it feeds or merely in 

 basking in the sunshine. 



XVII. THE SMOOTH-NOSED MUNGOOSES. GENUS 

 RHYNCHOGALE. 



Rhinogale, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 375; nee Gloger. 

 Rhynchogale, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1894, p. 139. 



The absence of a groove from the nose to the upper lip 

 serves to distinguish this genus not only from all the foregoing 

 members of the Herpestince, but likewise from all the Viverrince 

 with the exception of Cynogah. There are five toes to each 

 foot, and four pairs of pre-molar teeth in each jaw, while the 

 palate of the skull is concave, and the under surface of the 

 tarsus and metatarsus hairy. The teeth have blunted cusps 

 suited apparently for grinding rather than cutting ; and the last 

 molar in both jaws is relatively very large. 



The genus appears to be confined to East Africa. 



1. meller's mungoose. rhynchogale melleri. 



Rhinogale melleri, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 375 ; Thomas, 



Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 85. 

 Rhynchogale melleri) Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1894, p. 139. 



Characters. — Size and form very nearly as in Herfiestes ichneu- 

 mon ; tail about as long as the body ; under surface of tarsus 

 and metatarsus hairy as far as the bases of the toes. General 

 colour uniform pale brown, the longer hairs with one or two 

 rings of brown and white, which pass so gradually into one 

 another as to give little appearance of grizzling to the pelage ; 

 head and under-parts paler, in the former the white of the hairs 

 showing more conspicuously ; feet darker : under-fur grey at 



