HERPESTES SMITH II. 135 



129. Herpestes monticolus. 



W. ELLIOT, MSS. Konda yentawa, Tel. 



THE LONG-TAILED MUNGOOS. 



Descr. Colours much as in griseus, but somewhat more yellow in its 

 general tone j tail longer, tipped with maronne and black, and more 

 hairy ; feet dark reddish-brown ; muzzle not dark, slightly tinged with 

 reddish. Larger than griseus. Tail nearly equal in length to the head 

 and body. 



Length of one 20 inches ; tail with hair 19. 



This fine species differs conspicuously from griseus in its longer and 

 dark-tipped tall, which also distinguishes it from malaccensis. It differs 

 from H. Smithii in its muzzle being concolorous with the body, or 

 nearly so, and prevalent lighter colour. 



I have only procured this mungoos from the Eastern Ghats inland 

 from Nellore, where it inhabits forests among the hills. 



It most resembles H. fulvescens, Kelaart, of Ceylon, but this has a 

 shorter tail with the tip reddish, and has a more prevalent fulvous hue. 

 The muzzle too is blackish and the face ferruginous-brown. 



130. Herpestes Smithii. 



GRAY. BLYTH, Cat. 162. H. Ellioti, BLYTH. H. rubiginosus, 

 KELAART. 



THE RUDDY MUNGOOS. 



Descr. General colour ferruginous-brown, in some inclining to 

 grizzled maronne-red, brighter where it joins the blackish limbs and 

 black tip of the tail ; muzzle dark ; face rusty-red ; head and legs 

 redder than the other parts ; feet black ; the hairs are ringed black and 

 white, and have a dark reddish tip. It approximates malaccensis in the 

 character of the fur and also in size. 



Length of one, head and body, 13 to 15 inches; tail 12 to 13. 



This mungoos has been taken in forest jungle among the Eastern 

 Ghats near Madras, and in other parts of the same region. I procured 

 it in the forest at the foot of the Neelgherries, but did not obtain it in 

 the Malabar forests, though it most probably will be found there also. 



