103 



in my notes, under the name' of Mungos, but witli a note of interro- 

 gation, as I have only been able to examine a single specimen. 



Mungos? vitticollis. {Herpestes vitticollis, Benn.) Teeth — .• 



-^11- : -^^. The incisors and canines have nothing remarkable either 

 1—1 7—7 



in form or number. The first false molar in either javir is tubercu- 

 lous ; the second and third consist of one large conical fang in the 

 centre, and a smaller tubercle on each side of it ; then follows the 

 camassier, and after it two tuberculous teeth in the upper and three 

 in the lower jaw. The first of these in the upper jaw is large and 

 triangular ; the second, short and broad, its latitudinal dimensions 

 more than doubling its longitudinal ; the three of the lower jaw are 

 email, simple, rather distant from each other, and of cylindrical form. 

 This is a system of dentition which, as far as I am aware, is alto- 

 gether peculiar, and if confirmed by the examination of other speci- 

 mens, will undoubtedly form the type of a new genus. Perhaps fur- 

 ther and more rigid examination may even detect different species 

 from the diff'erent localities, as specimens have arrived for the So- 

 ciety from Travancore and Bombay, and one from Madras, at the 

 British Museum. 



Genus Sciurus, Linn. 



Sciurus Gambianus. This animal belongs to that subgenus of 

 Squirrels which are distinguished by having round untufted ears 

 and long cylindrical tails, covered with short hair, and not distichated. 

 The upper surface of the body and root of the tail are uniform naouse- 

 £Qloured br(i:^n, with a slight shade of yellowish red, and everywhere 

 pmnted thickly with gray, from the hairs being separately annulated 

 with black and yellowish white ; all the under parts are uniform 

 dirty white. The tail is long, covered with short hair, towards the 

 root of the same uniform colour as the back, but annulated or fas- 

 ciated from thence to the tip with numerous alternate bands of black 

 and light grayish brown, precisely like those which mark the back 

 of the Ryzcena and the Herpestes fasciatus. The whole length of the 

 animal is about 9l inches, and the tail about the same. The ears 

 are very short and rounded. 



From Dr. Smith's description of his Sci. Pocnsis, I imagine it must 

 approach this species in form, but is distinguislit-J by its smaller 

 size, different colour, and unannulated tail. 



Of the numerous Bird-skins in Mr. RendaU's collection I shall 

 only notice the two following, which appear to be new species, and 

 ■wliich derive an additional interest from their generic affinities. The 

 first I propose to call, out of compliment to the gentleman to whose 

 kindness we are indebted for the present exhibition and description, 



Nuinida Rendallii. This beautiful species, which Mr. Gould agrees 

 with me in considering new to science, is of smaller size than the 



