410 AFRICAN MUNGOOSES CHAP. 
sometimes raised to generic rank as Urva, is partly aquatic in 
habit ; it feeds upon crabs and frogs, but is quite willing to take 
to poultry and their eggs. 
Helogale is a genus whose validity appears doubtful (to Dr. 
Mivart). It is African, and contains two species. 
Fic. 202.—White-tailed Ichneumon. Herpestes albicauda. x t. 
Cynictis is an African genus, with five digits on the fore-limbs 
and four on the hind. As in Herpestes, the orbit is completely 
encircled by bone. There is but a single species, C. penicillata, 
which is of a reddish colour and has a bushy tail. 
Bdeogale, also African, has the toes still further reduced ; 
there are only four on both limbs. The tarsus is hairy and the 
tail bushy. They are “very rare animals, and nothing is known 
of their habits.” It is known, however, that they will kill 
poisonous snakes, for Dr. Peters took a Rhinoceros Viper out of 
the stomach of one. 
Rhynchogale* differs from all other genera of Viverridae, except 
Crossarchus and Suricata, in having no groove upon the muzzle. 
There are five digits. There is the full Viverrine dentition, with 
five premolars in the upper jaw; but this may be an abnormality.” 
Crossarchus differs from the last in only having three pre- 
molars on each side of each jaw. It is also African, and there 
are several species. 
Suricata is the last genus of Viverridae; it 1s also African, 
and contains a single species, Suricata tetradactyla, the “ Meerkat ” 
of the Cape. The Suricate has but four toes on each foot; the 
tarsus and the metatarsus are naked below. The body is banded 
posteriorly. There are fifteen dorsal vertebrae, and the orbit is 
1 The original name was Rhinogale. 
2 That it is an abnormality has been recently stated. 
