272 Lloyd's natural history. 



the roots and pale brown at the tips. Tail with long hairs, and 

 gradually darkening from its root to the tip, the hairs of the 

 basal third being uniformly brown, those of the middle third 

 white at the basal and black at the terminal half, and those ot 

 the terminal third entirely black. Length of head and body 

 in type specimen, 22 inches; of tail, 15 inches. 



Distribution. — Nyasaland. 



For upwards of thirty years the genus was known only by a 

 single specimen, which, curiously enough, presents the abnor- 

 mality of having five pairs of premolar teeth -in the upper jaw. 



Habits. — According to Mr. A. Whyte, the re-discoverer of the 

 species, wild fruits are always found in the stomach of this 

 Mungoose. Commenting on this, Mr. Thomas writes that 

 "Mr. Whyte's observation on the food of R. melleri is of great 

 interest, as its fruit-eating habits may perhaps account for the 

 peculiar structure and wear of its molars. In all the three 

 specimens before me the posterior molars appear to be more 

 worn than the anterior, as though an unusual amount of chew- 

 ins: had fallen to their share : but it must be admitted that 

 this appearance may be deceptive, and the explanation may be 

 that the second upper molar is naturally so much flatter than 

 usual that it appears to be worn flat almost at once." 



XVIII. THE CUSIMANSES. GENUS CROSSARCIIUS. 



Crossarc/ms, F. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. pi. xlvii. (1825). 



Aric/a, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 565. 

 Agreeing with Rhy?ichogale in the smooth upper lip, the 

 present genus is distinguished by having only three pairs of 

 pre-molar teeth in each jaw, by the flat bony palate of the 

 skull, and the naked soles of the hinder part of the hind-feet. 

 The last lower molar is similar to that of Bdeogak, having 

 three external cusps. The genus is represented by four species 

 locally scattered over Africa. 



