HERPESTES. 127 



probably the same, was a Kashmir specimen. This form has not, 

 however, been met with in the North-west Provinces or Bengal. 



Varieties. The type of H. smithi is a very rufous skin, whilst 

 that of H. jerdoni is almost as grey as H. mungo. But there is 

 much variation, and in this as in other species the amount of 

 rufous coloration is evidently very variable. The skulls are 

 precisely similar. The measurements also show a remarkable 

 variation, and it is just possible that a larger and a smaller form 

 are confounded. 



Habits. Very little has been recorded. The ruddy mungoose is 

 chiefly found in thick forests. 



62. Herpestes fuscus. The Nilgiri brown Mungoose. 



Herpestes fuscus, Waterhouse, P. Z. S. 1838, p. 55 ; Jerdoti, Mam. 

 p. 180 ; Anderson, An. Zool. Res. p. 184, pi. viii, figs. 1, 2 (skull). 



Size large. Tail a little shorter than the head and body. Hair 

 on the tail longer than on the body. Fur long, not very harsh ; 

 uuderfur dense, long and woolly. Naked sole not extending to 

 the heel. 



lu the only skull examined the orbit is nearly perfect. The 

 pterygoid bones are parallel and peculiarly everted, being convex 

 inside and concave externally. The second and third upper pre- 

 molars with distinct anterior cusps. Last lower molar with three 

 anterior cusps instead of two. 



Colour. Blackish brown, minutely speckled with yellow or brown- 

 ish white. Tail rather darker. Feet very dark. TJnderfur hair- 

 brown, longer hairs with alternating rings of blackish brown and 

 yellow or yellowish white, three or four of each, the dark rings 

 much longer than the light. 



Dimensions. Head and body 18 inches, tail with the hair at end 

 17; basal length of skull 3-2, zygomatic breadth 1-95. 



Distribution. The Nilgiri and Travancore hills, and probably 

 some other hill-ranges of Southern India. Anderson adds Ceylon, 

 but without giving any authority, and I feel doubtful whether 

 H. fuscus is found there, for it appears to be replaced by H.fulvescem. 



Habits. Very little is known of this fine mungoose except that it 

 inhabits the dense woods upon the Nilgiri hills, where it was 

 obtained by Jerdou. It was procured in Travancore by Mr. 

 Baker (J. A. S. B. xxviii, p. 283). 



63. Herpestes fulvescens. The Ceylon brown Mungoose. 



Herpestes fulvescens, Kelaart, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 162 (1851), xxi, 



p. 348 ; id. Cat. p. 52. 



Herpestes flavidens, Kelaart, J. A. S. B. xx, p. 184 ; id. Prod. p. 44. 

 Cyuictis maccartliise, Gray, P. Z. S. 1851, p. 131, pi. xxxi. 

 Onychogale maccarthise, Gray, P. Z. S. 1804, p. 570. 

 Herpestes maccarthise, Anderson, An. Zool. Res. p. 178. 

 Herpestes ceylanieua, H. Nevill, Taprobanian, i, p. 62. 

 lliun-Hiuyatea, (.'ing. 



