THE MANGOUSTES. 237 



GENUS URVA. 



The only species of this Eastern genus is the Crab-EATING Man- 

 GOUSTE, Urva cancrivora. It seems to occupy a position between the 

 Mangoustes proper and the Gkittons. It is easily distinguished by the 

 narrow stripe of long white hairs that runs from the mouth to the shoul- 

 ders, and the bushy base of the tail. It was discovered in the swampy 

 jungles of Nepaul, but beyond its passion for crustaceous food nothing 

 is known respecting its habits. 



GENUS ARIELA. 



The Zebra Mangouste, Aricla tccniata, is again the only species of the 

 genus. It is one of the smaller members of the family, and does not 

 much exceed a foot and a quarter in length. The fur is rich, of a fawn- 

 gray color ; on the head and neck the hairs end in black or brown and 

 white; on the back, in dark and fawn-colored tips; thus producing nine 

 to ten pairs of regular dark and light transverse bands. 



The Zebra Mangouste is found in all Eastern Africa, from the Cape of 

 Good Hope to Abyssinia. It can be easily tamed, and soon becomes 

 attached to its masters. It is said to attract some small birds within its 

 reach by imitating their cries. 



Brehm describes two Mangoustes which he had in his possession : 

 " As soon as I let them out of the cage they rambled through the whole 

 house, and in a few minutes had explored it all. They first visited the 

 milk-bowl, lifting the lid up with ther snout: they then collected all the 

 bones the}^ could find, preferring marrow-bones ; they extracted the mar- 

 row as far as possible with their claws, but when they could reach no 

 further they took the bone in their fore-paws, stood up on their hind-legs, 

 and threw it between their hind-legs against the wall with violence suf- 

 ficient to dislodge the marrow." 



GENUS CYNICTIS. 



This genus, comprising tliree species, is closely allied to the Ichneu- 

 mon, but differs in the formation of the feet — the animals comprehended 



