266 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
having a black /oemfo-like tail, and the other a tail with quite 
as much white on it as inaverage a/bicauda. We thus see that 
the presence or absence of a white tip to the tail-hairs is a 
character upon which no specific distinction can be founded ; 
and, in fact, it would rather seem that the white tail is the 
result of a desert life, specimens from sandy districts having, 
as a rule, white, and those from forest-regions black tails.” 
XXI. LARGE-TOOTHED MUNGOOSE. HERPESTES GRANDIS. 
LTerpestes grandis, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, p. 622. 
Characters.— Known only by the skeleton, which indicates an 
animal of larger size than the average of the preceding species 
(to which it is closely allied), and with relatively much longer 
limbs. The teeth generally larger and heavier than in &. 
albicauda, this being especially the case with the canines and 
the last lower molar, the latter having not only a more comp'‘ex 
crown, but being likewise proportionately large as compared 
with the first lower molar (carnassial). 
Distribution.—South Africa (probably from the Limpopo or 
Zululand). 
XIV. SIX-MOLARED MUNGOOSES. GENUS HELOGALE. 
Helogale, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 308. 
The single representative of this genus is distinguished from 
the majority of the species of Herpestes by having only three 
pairs of pre-molar teeth in each jaw; the first of these being 
approximated to the canine, and thus serving to distinguish 
the genus from the few forms of //ezfesves with only three pre- 
molars, in all of which there is a gap between the first of that 
seriesandthecanine. The skull is also shorter and broader, with 
the walls of the brain-case thinner, and the ridges for muscular 
attachment less developed. The sole of the hind-foot is naked. 
The last lower molar has but two cusps on its outer side. 
The writer is inclined to agree with Professor Mivart (Proc, 
