218 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY, 
more) than half the lenge 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 AZ. zchneumon 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 Palearctic 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 1/7. 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 
