THE YELLOW MUNGOOSE 

 Herpestes ochraceus, Gray 



Somali name, Sorgur 



DESCRIPTION. This mungoose is tawny in colour with a 

 slightly grizzled appearance, owing to the hairs on the back being 

 banded black and yellow. 



MEASUREMENTS in the flesh of a specimen obtained at Jifa 

 Medir, near Hargeisa, are : 



Head and body , , . . .. . . 269 mm. 



Tail. . .. . - ; .. .. . . 273 



Hindfoot. . . . . ,,- . 50 



Ear. . . . . . 25 



DISTRIBUTION. The type specimen of this species is labelled 

 " Abyssinia " ; but nothing is known of the exact locality. The 

 above specimen was obtained near Hargeisa, so it is probably 

 found throughout Northern Somaliland, especially in the hilly 

 regions in the Jibril Aboukr and Gadabursi countries. 



HABITS. It resembles in habits the others of the same group, 

 and is only seen singly or in pairs. It is undoubtedly a rare 

 mungoose. 



29 



