68 MR. o. THOMAS ON THE [Jan. 3, 



other specimens of both species there is no hair at all on the soles 

 from toes to heel. And as to the length of the hallux, in the hairy- 

 soled forms of the two species its claw reaches to within 0'23 and 

 0'27 in. from the most anterior point of the large central foot-pad, 

 while in other specimens these measurements average 0"o2 and 0"64 

 in. respectively. 



With regard to the habits of these large Mungooses, the manner 

 in which H. ichneumon destroys the eggs of the crocodile is well 

 known ; and there is no doubt tliat it is of considerable use to the 

 country in this way. Smuts' says of //. caffer : — -This animal lives 

 in many parts of the Cajie colony, mostly in holes in the earth. It 

 feeds principally upon mice, the smaller birds, and amphibians, and 

 is often kept in a state of domestication on account of the services it 

 renders in destroying these animals." 



3. Herpestes gracilis. 



a. Typical variety. 



*H. gyacilis, Riipp. N. Wirb. Abyss, p. 29, pi. viii. fig. 2 (1S3.5). 

 *H. mutgigella, Riipp. t. cit. p. 29, pi. ix. fig. 1 (1833). 

 Ichneumia nlgricaudatus, Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, p. 18 (1839). 

 H. galinieri, Gruerin, Ferret & Galinier, Voy. Abyss., Atl. Zool. 

 pi. i. fig. 1 (juv.) (1847-48). 



*n.punctulatus. Gray, P. Z. S. 1849, p. 11 (1849). 

 H. lefebvrei, Des Murs&Prcv., Lefebvre Yoy. Abyss., Atl. Zool. 

 pi. i. (in text H. gracilis) ( I8o0). 



*II. ornatus, Peters, Reise nach Mossambique, Mamm. p. 117, 

 pi. xxvi. (1852). 



H. (ichromelaSy Puch. Rev. et Mag. Zool. vii. p. 393 (1855). 

 *H. iocloprymnus, Heugl. Nov. Act. Ac. Leop. xxix. p. 23 (1861). 

 77. adailensis, Hcugl. Peterni. Gcogr. Mittheil. 1861, p. 17 

 (1861). 



H. mulschellschelu, Heugl. Reise N.O. Afr. ii. p. 41 (ex Riipp.) 

 (1877). 



H. ruficauda, Heugl. Reise N.O. Afr. ii. p. 43 (1877). 



Hab. East-African snbregion — from Cape Verd round by Abys- 

 sinia to Natal. 



b. Variety melanunts. 

 *Cynictis melanura, Martin, P. Z. S. 1836, p. 56 (1836). 

 Hab. West- African subregion — Sierra Leone to Cameroons. 



c. Variety badius'. 



"^Ichneumon ratlatuuchi et cawi, A. Smith, App. Rep. S. Afr. Exp. 

 p. 42(1836). 



1 Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 20, 1S32. 



^ I have used this name in preference to either of Dr. Smith's preTious names 

 for this variety, because not only is it more classical and extremely appropriate, 

 but Dr. Smith himself proposed the alteration, and therefore there can be no in- 

 justice in ignoring his earlier names. 



