98 Air. 0. Thomas on 



(/losely similar to II. Atkinsoui in size and appearance, 

 the general colour of exactly the same grey, although more 

 coarsely grizzled. But the fur is longer, coarser, and 

 shaggier, the hairs on the back attaining 18-20 ram. in 

 length, as against 13-15, and the rings on them are broader, 

 especially terminally. Thus in II. Atkinsoni each, dorsal hair 

 has a black tip of about 1*5 mm. long, succeeded by a white 

 ring of about the same breadth, "while in H. hirtula the 

 terminal and subterminal bands are each 4-5 mm. in length. 

 The effect of this difference is to make the general grizzling 

 very markedly more coarse than in the finely ticked //. At- 

 Tcinsoni. Head as in //. Atkinsoni, but a ring round each 

 eye practically naked. Under surface as in //. Atkinsoni, 

 except that the belly has a more strongly marked tendency 

 to rufous. Limbs coloured as in the allied forms, but the 

 ends of the digits, both fore and hind, are abruptly and 

 prominently black to the base of the claws. Tail as in 

 H. Atkinsoni, but, as on the body, the hairs are more coarsely 

 ringed. 



Skull rather larger than in H. Atkinsoni, but similar in 

 details. Teeth decidedly larger throughout, the posterior 

 teeth below conspicuously larger and heavier ; the first lower 

 molar in H. Atkinsoni is about 2*4 mm. in breadth, while in 

 //. hirtula it is about 2'9, a very considerable difference. 



Dimensions of the type (measured in the flesh) : — 



Head and body 230 mm.; tail 166; hind foot (s. u.) 48; 

 ear 18. 



Skull : greatest length 51 ; basal length 46*5 ; zygomatic 

 breadth 31'5 ; breadth of brain-case 22 ; palate length 25'3 ; 

 greatest diameter of j>'^ 5"9, of m^ 38, of ^4 3*9, of mi 3*7, of 

 m^ 3. 



Hab. and ti/pe as above. 



This mungoose presents a curious problem, for it is so 

 similar to Helogale Atkinsoni as to be readily mistaken for it ; 

 but the larger teeth, shaggier fur, coarser speckling, and the 

 black digits compel me to consider it distinct. Its occurrence 

 in the same country as //. Atkinsoni prevents its having 

 merely subspecific rank. 



8. Lycaon * pictus somalicus, subsp. n. 

 ? . 143, 144. Gorahai. 



* I may take this opportunity to describe 



Lycaon pictns zuluensis, subsp. n. 



A small form profusely marbled with white on the back, as well as 

 with yellow and black, which are present in about equal proportions. 



