THE SMOOTH-NOSED MUNGOOSES 



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variation. The other two species {Bdeogale. crassicauda and B. puisa] are from East 

 Africa, Mozambique and Zanzibar, and are distinguished by having but four 

 toes on both fore and hind-feet. Both species are closely allied, differing mainly 

 in the color of the hairs of the tail. 



THE SMOOTH-NOSED MUNGOOSES 

 Genera Rhinogale and Crossarchus 



The remaining members of the mungoose group, all of which are African, differ 

 from the whole of the preceding in that there is no median vertical groove between 



THE THICK-TAILED MUNGOOSE. 

 (One-eighth natural size.) 



the nose and the upper lip. They are referred to three distinct genera, of which 

 the two here mentioned have five toes on each foot. 



Meller's mungoose {Rhinogale melleri'} is an East African species, which is of 

 interest not only on account of its being the sole representative of the genus to 

 which it belongs, but also from only a single specimen (described as long ago as 

 1864) having hitherto been obtained of it. It is of about the same form and size as 

 the Egyptian mungoose, with the full number of premolar teeth, and with the soles 

 of the hind- feet completely covered with hair, as far as the roots of the toes. The 

 tail is about equal in length to the body, and the general color is a uniform pale 



