WATER MONGOOSE 59 



another 18 inches. In colour it is a speckled grey, the 

 hairs being ringed with black and white. Tail tapering 

 towards the tip, which is black. 



It is recorded from Knysna, C.P., whence the Trans- 

 vaal Museum has obtained specimens. Mr. C. H. B. 

 Grant says it is now rare in that locality owing to its 

 fondness for chickens, which has caused its destruction. 

 The Zoo has obtained examples from Natal and the 

 Eastern Cape Colony. 



Herpestes galera. Water Mongoose. 

 Groot Zwarte Muishond or Kommetje Kat. 



This animal is nearly as big as the preceding species, 

 being 24 inches in length, with a tail of 13 to 14 inches. 

 It is a somewhat thickset animal, dark brown in colour, 

 the hairs being ringed with blackish or dark brown and 

 pale yellow. The legs are darker brown, the hairs on 

 this region not being ringed. 



The tail is tapering, being bushy at the base and 

 graduating towards the tip, which is a little darker than 

 the basal portion. The Water Mongoose is partly 

 aquatic, taking to the water when pursued. Its usual 

 haunt is a reed or rush-bed on the bank of a river, 

 stream, or vlei or in the long grass bordering the vleis. 

 In captivity it is fond of lying in the water basin, or 

 splashing the water about until the receptacle is empty. 

 Mr. Woosnam procured it at Kuruman in Bechuanaland, 

 and says its food consists chiefly of fish, frogs and crabs. 

 The Transvaal Museum contains specimens from Knysna, 

 C.P., and the Zoo has obtained examples from Elizabeth- 

 ville (Belgian Congo), Bank, Brits, Pietersburg, Lichten- 

 burg, and Pretoria (Transvaal). 



When captured young, it makes a tame and amusing 

 pet ; indeed, we have possessed examples quite as tame 



