FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 6l 



genus is represented by the large red Heller's mungoose (Rhynchogale 

 melleri)), easily distinguished from all the preceding members of the sub- 

 family by the absence of a vertical groove on the nose and upper lip. Each 

 foot is furnished with five toes, there are four pairs of premolar teeth in each 

 jaw, and the under surface of the tarsus and metatarsus is hairy. The fourth 

 African genus (Crossarchus) contains the five species of cusimanses, which 

 while resembling the last in the absence of a groove on the muzzle, differ by 

 having only three pairs of premolar teeth in each jaw, the flat bony palate of 

 the skull, and the naked soles of the hinder portion of the hind-feet. 

 Several of the species, such as C. 

 fasciatus, have a number of dark trans- 

 verse bands across the back. Lastly, 

 the pretty little meerkat (Suricata 

 tetradactyla) of South Africa differs 

 from all the other smooth-nosed mun- 

 gooses in having only four toes to each 

 foot, and is further characterised by 

 possessing three pairs of upper, and 

 four of lower premolars, as well as by 

 the naked under surface of the whole 

 of the tarsus and metatarsus. The 

 muzzle is sharp, the front claws are 



very long, and the profile of the face is *-^ D > MOTOQM 



convex. Ihe general colour of the fur (Crossarchus fasciatus). 



is light grizzled grey, with black bands 



across the hinder part of the back, and a black ring round each eye. 

 Meerkats measure from 14 to 15 inches to the root of the tail ; and are viva- 

 cious little animals, living in holes in colonies, and coming out to air them- 

 selves in the sun, when they survey passers-by with a peculiarly inquisi- 

 tive expression. 



The Island of Madagascar is inhabited by four peculiar genera of mun- 

 gooses, three of which are more or less closely related to the Herpestitue, 

 while the fourth certainly forms a sub-family by itself. From 

 all other members of the Viverridce, the two species of Madagascar 

 striped mungoose are distinguished by the numerous con- Mungooses. 

 tinuous dark stripes running down the whole length of the 

 back and sides. They have but three pairs of premolar teeth in each jaw, the 

 first of which is placed close to the canine ; and the canines themselves are 

 of large size. The five-toed feet have longer claws than in the typical mun- 

 gooses ; the muzzle is grooved inferiorly; the tail is covered with elongated 

 hairs; and the under surface of the tarsus is bare. From the last, the elegant 

 mungoose (Galidia eleyans) may be distinguished by the smaller size of the 

 lower canine teeth, the presence of short sparse hairs oh the lower surface 

 of the tarsus and metatarsus, the uniform coloration of tlie body, and the 

 ringed tail. The two species of brown-tailed mungoose (Hemigalidia) differ 

 from the preceding by the presence of four pairs of premolars in each jaw, 

 the larger size of the second upper molar, the uniformly-coloured tail, the 

 more pointed form of the muzzle, and the smaller degree of curvature of the 

 claws. 



Finally, there is the small-toothed mungoose (Eupleres goudoti), distin- 

 guished from all other mungooses by the non-eversion of the hinder border 

 of the auditory bulla of the skull, and from the rest of the family by its very 



