ly82.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 69 



*Herpestes badius, Smith, 111. Afr. Zool. pt. ii. pi. iv. (1838). 

 *H. yranti, Gray, P. Z. S. 18G4, p. 561 (1864). 

 *Oalogale venatica, Gray, t. cit. p. .563 (1864). 



Hob, South-African subregion, and northwards to Zanzibar. 



cl. Variety ochraceiis. 



*H. ochraceus, Gray, P.Z.S. 1848, p. 138, pi. viii. (1848). 

 Galerella ochracea, Gray, P. Z.S. 1864, p. 564 (1864). 



Hab. Abyssinia. 



Specific Characters. — Size small, form slender ; tail slightly shorter 

 than the head and body. Fur of medium length, not longer either 

 at the base or tip of the tail ; colour very variable, sandy, rufous, or 

 dark grey-brown. Tip of tail always deep shining black, the black 

 part varying from 1 to 4 inches in length. Underside of tarsus 

 naked. Skull like that of a miniature H. ichneumon ; the teeth 

 similarly slender and sharp. Last molar about half the length of 

 the 4th premolar (46 to 59 per cent.). 



Varietal Characters. 



Typical variety. — General colour above and below dark brownish 

 grey, with or without black annulations ; the tips of the hairs often 

 with a distinct ruddy tinge. In unannulated specimens the black 

 tail-tip not so sharply separated from the rest of the tail. 



Var. melanurus. — General colour above and below dark rufous, 

 distinctly anuulated with black. Fur short and crisp. 



Var. badius. — Bright rufous, sometimes annulated with black. 

 Fur rather long and soft. 



Var. ochraceus. — Light sandy yellow, annulated, in the only known 

 specimen, with black. 



Dimensions. 



m ■ , ■ ITeacl 



Typical variety. and body. Tail. Hind foot. 



a. Abyssinia (Hujjpell) 14-5 12-0 2-5 



b. l^iatal (Type oi' jmnc till a tns).. .. 12-5 ll-o 2-3 

 Var. melanurus. 



c. Sierra Leone 13*0 1 1'O 2*3 



Var. badius. 



</. S. Africa (type) 12*8 U'O 2-0 



e. Cape 12-0 lO/' 1-9 



Var. ochraceus. 



/. Abyssinia (type), imm 10*0 9-8 1-9 



