474 



CARNIVORES. 



have four premolar teeth on either side of eacli jaw, and are further characterised 

 by the hairiness of the soles of the hind-feet. 



The thick-tailed mungoose (Vyaictia penicillaia) is the onlj- representative of 

 its genus which is characterised by having four toes on the hind-foot and tive on 

 the fore-foot. Tliis animal inhabits the Cape Colonj', and is of medium size. It 

 may be readily distinguished from all its allies by its bushj- white-tipped tail, and 

 the peculiar gi-eyish -yellow colour of its fur, which is liable to some degree of 

 individual variation. The other two species (Bdeofjale crassicauda and B. puisa) 

 are from East Africa, — Mozambique and Zanzibar, — and are di.stinguished bv having 

 but four toes on both fore and hind-feet. Both species ai'e closely allied, diti'ering 

 mainly in the colour of the hairs of the tail. 



-^x-5r_tv^- 



THE TincK-TAiLED MUSGOOSE (J nat. size). 



The Smooth-Xosed Muxgoose.s. 



Genera Rhinogale and Crossarchus. 



The remaining members of the mungoose group, all of which are African, 

 differ from the whole of the preceding in that there is no median vertical groo\'e 

 between the nose and the upper lip. They are referred to three distinct genera, 

 of which the two here mentioned have five toes on each foot. 



Meller's mungoose {Rhiiwc/nle meUeri) is an East African species, which is of 

 intere.st not only on account of its being the sole representative of the genus to 

 which it belongs, but also from onh' a single specimen (described as long ago as 1864) 



