Dr. J. E. Gray on Helogale, a new Genus of Viverride. 243 
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Nov. 12, 1862.—Dr. J. E. Gray, V.P., in the Chair. 
The following extract from a letter addressed to the Secretary by 
Edward Blyth, Esq. (Corr. Memb.), dated Maulmein, May 10th, 
1861, was read to the meeting :— 
“‘T have made this day a grand discovery, which neither you nor 
others will believe in at the first announcement, but it is true never- 
theless,—viz. that the extraordinary Rhinoceros-horn figured * as 
that of Rhinoceros Crossti by Gray, in your ‘ Proceedings,’ is the well- 
developed anterior horn of an old male R. swmatranus—the common 
species of these provinces. My host at this place is a great sports- 
man, and some noble trophies of the chase hang in his verandah ; 
but what fixed my attention was the head of R. sumatranus, 
with a development of horns which I had never imagined to occur 
in this species ; and the resemblance of the much-curved anterior 
horn to that of Gray’s supposed species, R. Crossii, struck me at once. 
Conversing with my host on the subject, he remarked that he took 
a similar head to England (where it now adorns his family hall), with 
the front horn at least 3 inches longer, and still more curved. A 
little reflection, and I felt satisfied that R. Crossii must sink into a 
synonym of R. sumatranus.” 
In a subsequent communication Mr. Blyth remarked :— 
** All doubts now removed about the identity of R. sumatranus 
and R. Crossii. Mason states that the skin of the Tenasserim spe- 
cies ‘is quite smooth, like a buffalo’s’—meaning devoid of folds ; 
but Col. Fytche assures me that the one he shot had the slight folds 
described and figured of R. sumatranus. 'The mature female horns are 
small, and the nasal bones comparatively narrow; I am not aware 
that a corresponding sexual difference occurs in any other Rhino- 
ceros. In the Indian one-horned species the sexes are alike in size 
and development of horn.” 
The following papers were read :-— 
Notice or HevoGAte, a New Genvus OF VIVERRID&. 
By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., F.L.S., ere. 
In making out a list of the skulls of the animals in the Museum, 
Mr. Edward Gerrard called my attention toa peculiarity in the skull 
of some of the smaller African Mangoustes. They are externally 
like the -true Herpestes, but they want the smaller false premolar 
teeth in the upper jaw, which are always to be found in the true 
species of that genus. I propose to designate the group Helogale, 
which may be thus characterized :— 
HELOGALE. 
Cutting teeth a; Can. oS; Premol. 3 Mol. 3 ae 
* See P.Z, S. 1854, p. 250. 
