THE STRIPED MUNGOOSES. 277 
Rhyzena typicus, Smith, S. African Quart. Journ. vol. ii. p. 117 
(1835). 
Suricata tetradactyla, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 92. 
_ Characters.—Size small; form slender; tail about half the 
length of the head and body ; fur long and soft. General colour 
light grizzled grey, with black cross-bands on the hinder part of 
the back, these dark and light bands being formed by the 
regular arrangement of the hairs, which are ringed with black 
and white, the latter colour predominating. Under-fur dark 
rufous. Head nearly white, with the exception of a distinct 
oblong black mark round the eyes ; ears black ; tail yellowish, 
with a distinct black tip; feet coloured like the body. Length 
of head and body, 14 to 15 inches; of tail, 7 to 8 inches. 
Distribution Cape Colony, ranging to Algoa Bay. 
Habits.— Meerkats are sociable little animals, found both in the 
plains and on the mountains of the Cape Colony. In the latter 
situation they dwell in caves and the crevices of the rocks ; 
but in the former dig burrows for themselves wherever the soil 
is sandy, the long curved black claws of the fore-feet being 
specially adapted for such work. Unlike the typical Mun- 
gooses, they are essentially diurnal animals, not making their 
appearance above ground till well after sunrise, and loving to 
bask in the full solar rays. When abroad they frequently sit 
up on their hind-legs after the manner of Marmots, when they 
wil! ailow themselves to be approached within a short distance 
before disappearing suddenly into their holes. | When ap- 
proached by a Dog, they utter a series of little short barks. 
Easily tamed, these little animals form bright and amusing 
pets. Their food is stated to consist largely of bulbous roots. 
XX. THE STRIPED MUNGOOSES. GENUS GAULIDICTIS: 
Galidictis, Geoffroy, Comptes Rendus, vol. v. p. 578 (1837). 
The whole of the remaining members of the Family Viver- 
ride are confined to the island of Madagascar, and while the 
