270 LLOYD’S NATURAL HISTORY. 
general characters with thoM of LTerpestes ichneumon, the last 
lower molar having only two external cusps, and the soles of 
the hind-feet being hairy. Like all the foregoing genera of the 
Sub-family, the nose is medianly grooved. Mr. Thomas re- 
marks that “ this genus is a very distinct and well-marked one, 
not only on account of its different number of digits, but also 
from the fact that its skull is very differently shaped to that 
of Herpestes, more resembling Swricata than any of the genera 
of this section.” The auditory bulla has a large hole near the 
middle. 
I. THE PENCILLED MUNGOOSE. CYNICTIS PENICILLATA. 
Herpestes penicillatus, Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 2, vol. i. p. 158 
(1829). 
Mangusta levaillantit, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. vol. iv. p. 437 
(1829). 
Cynictis steedmanni, Ogilby, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 49. 
Cynictis typicus, Smith, S. African Quart. Journ. vol. u. p. 116 
(1835). 
Cynictis ogilbyt, Smith, of. cit. p. 117. 
Ichneumtia albescens, 1. Geoffroy, Mag. Zool. 1839. pl. xii. 
Cynictis leptura, Smith, Ilustr. Zool. S. Africa, pl. xvii. (1849). 
Cynictis penicillata, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 83. 
Characters.—Size medium ; form slender, and head relatively 
small ; tail bushy, about equal in length to the body. General 
colour ranging from dark yellow to light yellowish-grey, the 
longer hairs light yellow for the basal half, then with a black 
ring, and the tip white ; the individual variation in the general 
colour being due to differences in the length of these white 
tips. Under-fur rich yellow; chin white; under-parts and 
limbs somewhat paler than back ; hairs of bushy tail frequently 
exceeding a couple of inches in length, their colour generally 
similar to those of the back, but the terminal hairs white 
throughout. Length of head and body, 15 to 15% inches; 
of tail, 9 to 9% inches. 
