88 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE [Jan. 3, 



This species is a very well known and fairly common one, though 

 it seems to be quite restricted to the West-African subregion. Its 

 superficial likeness to small dark-coloured specimens of Herpestes 

 galera has already been refered to above ^ 



A specimen in the Berlin Museum has the following note attached 

 to it : — " Bores in the earth with its nose after insects." 



2. Crossarchus gambianus. 



*Eerpestes gambianus, Ogilby, P. Z, S. 1835, p. 102. 



3Iung OS gambianus, Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 575. 



Hab. Gambia. 



Size, form, and general coloration much as in C.fasciatus (q. v.) ; 

 but the hairs on the back placed, so to speak, without reference to 

 their rings, so that there is no trace of cross bands, but only a 

 general grizzled appearance; and thus the posterior part of the body 

 onlv differs from the head and shoulders in being more rufous. 

 Neck and chest white ; on the sides of the neck a distinct black 

 streak separating the upper and lower colours, in this respect 

 reminding one of Herpestes vitticoUis, Benn. 



Skull broad and heavy as in G. fasciatus. Teeth small, as in 

 C. obscunts and zebra. P.M^ only 6 mm. long. Dental percentage 

 80. 



Dimensions. 



Head and 

 body. TaU. Hind foot. 



a. Gambia (type) 15'0 .. 2^5 



Skull. Basi- 



Palate- Palate- Inc. to cranial 

 Length. Breadth, length, breadth, cross line. axis. 



a. Type. ...c. 2-85 158 1^43 ^84 ^92 — 



This species is very interesting as showing what a comparatively 

 unimportant character the presence of cross bands on the back is. 

 Its coloration is extremely similar to that of C. fasciatus ; yet 

 by a simple disarrangement of the hairs of the back, all the broad 

 distinct cross bands vanish, and the back only presents a coarse 

 grizzled rufous-grey colour. 



The type was collected by Mr. Rendall on the river Gambia, 

 whence, at about the same time, a second specimen (immature) was 

 sent to the late Lord Derby. Both these specimens are now in the 



' P. 73. 



