THE RED MUNGOOSE 

 Herpestes ochraceus perfulvidus, Thos. 



Somali name, Sorgur 



DESCRIPTION. This is the most beautiful of the Somali mun- 

 gooses. The general body colour is bright ochraceous above and 

 a creamy white below. The tail is of the general body colour, only 

 more tawny with its terminal third jet black. 



MEASUREMENTS in the flesh of a male and female specimen 

 trapped at Ber, 17 miles east of Burao: 



cT ? 



Head and body . . , . 322 mm. 230 mm. 



Tail . .247 214 



(with terminal hairs) . . 277 

 Hindfoot . . . . . . 52 45 



Ear. . . 27 23 



DISTRIBUTION. All my specimens were caught at Ber, where 

 they appear to be fairly common. I fancy they are to be found 

 throughout the Haud and the red-earth country. I have seen 

 them also near Odweina wells. Major Dunn, R.A.M.C., obtained 

 a specimen near Wardair. 



HABITS. They are frequently seen during the heat of the day, 

 when their bright fur is most conspicuous. They usually go about 

 in pairs ; but I have seen as many as four together. They are 

 probably, as Mr. Thomas suggests, the representatives in the red- 

 earth country of the Abyssinian H. ochraceus. 



