THE TAWNY MUNGOOSE 

 Herpestes ochraceus fulvidior, Thos. 



Somali name, Sorgur 



DESCRIPTION. The general body colour of this mungoose is 

 grizzly ochraceous above and buffy white below. The tail is the 

 same colour as the back, namely tawny, except for its terminal 

 third, which is black. 



MEASUREMENTS in the flesh of a female trapped at Shimbiraleh, 

 in Guban, were as follows : 



Head and body . . . . . . 267 mm. 



Tail. ....... . , 245 



Hindfoot . . . . . . . 49 



Ear. . . ' . . . 25 



DISTRIBUTION. This mungoose is rare. I have only met 

 with it on Guban. 



HABITS. It inhabits thick bush along the watercourses on 

 Guban. Although I have never seen it except on Guban, a 

 specimen was obtained by C. V. A. Peel near Aik. The Somalis 

 have given this and the following species the name " Sorgur " 

 owing to their greedy habits. The word means " take away food." 

 They assert that when a sheep dies, these mungooses will occupy 

 holes near by until they have finished it. 



