588 On Two new Races oj Mongoose. 



LXVIIT. — Two 7iew Races of Mongoose. 

 By Oldfield Thomas. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of tlie British Museum.) 



Mungos paludinosus morda.v, subsp. n. 



Size very large, the skull larger than in any example of 

 ]\[. p. rohustus. Frontal region unusually convex, the outline 

 strongly bowed. Crest well developed. Posterior palatal 

 tube of medium breadth. Bullae well inflated. 



Teeth exceedingly large and heavy, far surpassing those 

 of any other member of the group (see measurements below). 

 Small anterior premolar absent as usual, this tooth being 

 only present in the western race of the species, M. paludi- 

 nosus phito, Temm. 



Dimensions of skull : — 



Condylo-basal length 115 mm. ; zygomatic breadth 63"4 ; 

 breadth of nasal opening 12*6; interorbital breadth 23"5 ; 

 intertemporal breadth 11*3 ; palatal length QQ ; palate breadth 

 outside^* 39*4; outer breadth of posterior palatal tube 10'6. 



Teeth. — Combined breadth of upper incisors 15*2 ; />' 8'5 x 

 7'1 ; p*, greatest diameter 14'5, length on outer side 11"7 ; 

 »?<\ transverse diameter 12'5; m^ 7'5x3*7; Wi 1 1*7 X 7*1; 

 ///g 6-8 X 5-r>. 



Hah. Rombashi Biver, in German E. Africa, N.W. of the 

 north end of Lake Nyasa. Alt. 1600'. 



Type. Adult skull with unworn teeth ; said to be female, 

 but more probably male. B.M. no. 3. 2. 16. 2. Collected 

 in November 1888, and presented by Capt. R. Crawshay. 



The conspicuously greater size of the teeth will readily 

 distinguish this fine mungoose from its allies M.p. rolmstus 

 and ruheUiis. Hollister's M. p. rubescens* from Kilima- 

 njaro is decidedly smaller. 



Mungos naso nigeri'anus, subsp. n. 



Essential characters as in true naso, but size markedly 

 smaller. 



Colour as in naso. 



Skull smaller in all dimensions, as indicated by the dimen- 

 sions below. Frontal region rather less convex. BuUse 

 much smaller. 



* P. Biol. Soc. Wash. xxv. p. 1 (1912). 



