272 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 
the roots and pale brown atgfie 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.—N yasaland. 
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 pre-molar 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 2. mellert 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- 
ing 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 CROSSARCHYS: 
Crossarchus, ¥. Cuvier, Hist. Nat. Mamm. pl. xlvii. (1825). 
Ariela, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 565. 
Agreeing with 2RAyachogale 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 Bdeogale, having 
three external cusps. The genus is represented by four species - 
locally scattered over Africa. 
