254 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
head and body in the typf€Al variety, about 24 inches; of tail, 
13 inches. 
Distribution—Typically West and South Africa; replaced in 
East Africa (White Nile) by a larger variety (47. robustus) with 
a proportionately shorter tail. 
Habits.—In South Africa this species is stated to frequent 
marshy spots and the banks of the smaller rivers, feeding chiefly 
upon frogs and crustaceans. 
VIII. EAST AFRICAN MUNGOOSE. HERPESTES PULVERULENTUS. 
flerpestes pulverulentus, Wagner, Minch. Gel. Anzeiz. vol. ix. 
p. 426 (1839); Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 74. 
Hlerpestes aficulatus, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 551. 
Characters.—Size rather small; form somewhat stout; tail 
about equal in length to the body alone; hinder extremity of 
tarsus hairy beneath; fur rather long, soft, and shining. 
General colour uniform grizzled grey, the longer hairs with 
rings of black and white or yellow, the rings of each colour 
being of equal length; under-fur brown at the base and grey 
at the extremity. Hair of tail long; in colour the whole tail 
like the body ; feet slightly darker. Length of head and body, 
from 13 to 15 inches ; of tail, 10 to 11% inches. 
Distribution.—Eastern side of the Cape Colony (Algoa Bay, 
Natal, &c.). 
With the exception that it has not a black tail-tip, this 
species presents a considerable resemblance to a very diminu- 
tive specimen of H. cafer; the nature of the fur being 
similar in the two species. The geographical distribution is 
remarkably restricted. 
IX. THE SHORT-HAIRED MUNGOOSE. HERPESTES 
PUNCTATISSIMUS. 
erpestes punctatissimus, Temminck, Esquisses Zool. p, 108 
(1853) ; Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 74. 
