466 



CARNIVORES. 



into three primary groups, or subfamilies ; the first of these being represented solely 

 by the fossa of Madagascar, the second including the true civets, genets, palm- 

 civets, etc., and the third the mungooses and their allies. 



The true mungooses, or those constituting the genus Herpestes, are so well 

 known as to be familiar to many of our readers. They have long, weasel-like 

 bodies, and a more or less elongated tail, which is generally thick at the root, and 

 may be covered with long hair ; its general colour being like that of the body, but 

 the tip often darker. The longer hairs of almost all the mungooses are marked 

 with alternate darker and lighter rings, which communicate a peculiar and 

 characteristic speckled appearance to the fur. The head has a pointed muzzle, 

 with a rather short nose, in which there is a median groove on the completely 

 naked under-surface. The ears are small and rounded. The limbs are likewise 

 of extreme shortness, the feet being provided with five toes, of which the first, 

 both in front and behind, is extremely small. These toes are generally detached, 

 but may be slightly connected by a small web at their bases. The under-surfaces of 

 the fore-feet are generally naked ; while in most cases only the front part of the soles 

 of the hind-feet are free from hair. It may be added that most mungooses have the 

 same number of teeth as the true civets, that is forty ; but, owing to the loss of a 

 premolar on each side of the lower and upper jaws, in some species the number 

 may be reduced to thirty-six. 



As already mentioned, the true mungooses have a wide distribution, ranging 

 over the greater part of Africa, extending across the Straits of Gibraltar into 

 Spain, and eastwards through the south of Asia as far as the islands of the 

 Malayan region. The number of species belonging to the typical genus is com- 

 paratively large, Africa claiming eight l (among which is the one ranging into 

 Spain), and the same number being recognised by Mr. Blanford from India, Ceylon, 

 and Burma. In respect of size the mungooses exhibit a considerable degree of 

 variation, for, whereas the head and body of the smallest species may be compared 

 to those of a weasel, the larger forms rival a domestic cat in dimensions. Sum- 

 marising the habits of the mungooses, Mr. Blanford describes them as terrestrial 

 Carnivores, seeking their prey on the ground, and very rarely climbing trees. 

 They are active, bold, and predacious, and live on small mammals, birds and 

 reptiles, insects and eggs, and occasionally eat fruit. They are deadly enemies to 

 snakes, as described under H. mungo. They live in holes in the ground, hollow 

 trees, and similar places. When angry or excited, they erect their long hairs, 

 and especially those of their tails. 



The typical representative of the genus is the Egyptian mungoose or 

 ichneumon (H. ichneumon), inhabiting Africa, north of the Sahara Desert, 

 Palestine, Asia Minor, and the southern portions of Spain. It was one of the 

 sacred animals of the ancient Egyptians, and is often depicted on their frescoes. 

 It is reported to feed largely upon the eggs of crocodiles, although this habit has 

 not been recorded of any of the Indian species. It was, and we believe still is, 

 domesticated in Egypt ; and has the same antipathy to snakes alluded to under the 

 head of the common Indian species. The Egyptian mungoose is a large species; 

 the length of the head and body being about 20 inches, and that of the tail some 



1 There is also a species known only by the skull, which is believed to be African. 



