55 



nales were large, and foliated at their upper part ; their length was 

 2|- inches. 



The morbid appearances were as follows : 



The vessels of the brain gorged with blood, and deep blush occu- 

 pied the whole surface. The abdominal viscera were adherent to 

 each other and to the peritoneal lining of the abdomen. The blad- 

 der was distended with urine, so as to be as thin as fine transparent 

 paper ; it extended above the iimbilictis, and was adherent to the 

 peritoneum. The urine exuded through its parietes, as the moisture 

 with which it was perpetually bedewed proved by the smell. There 

 was bloody fluid in the abdomen ; and the gall-bladder was distended 

 as large as an egg. 



' Mr. Waterhouse exhibited a new species, from the Society's Col- 

 lection, of Gerbillus, and a new Herpestes, which were accompanied 

 with the following descriptions. 



Herpestes fusca. Herp.fusca ; pilis nigra flavoque annulatis, ad 

 basin fuscescentibus ; guld fusco-flavd ; caudd, quoad longitudinem, 

 corpus fere csquante, pilis longissimis obsitd. 



unc. lin. 



Longitudo capitis corporisque 18 



caudce 17 



■ tarsi digitorumque 3 6 



Hab. India (Madras ?) 



" This species is about equal in size to the Herpestes major or 

 urinatrix of the Cape, and hence is larger than any of the Indian 

 species hitherto described. It approaches in colour nearest to Herp. 

 brachiurtis of Mr. Gray, but may be distinguished by its very long 

 and bushy tail. The claws of the fore feet are remarkably large and 

 of a brown colour ; the longest claw measures upwards of three 

 quarters of an inch ; the feet are blackish. Each hair of the back 

 is grayish brown at the base, then pale brown, and the apical half is 

 black, generally with about three or four yellowish rings. At a little 

 distance the animal appears to be of a deep brown colour. 



" The skins from which the above description was taken were 

 purchased at a sale of zoological subjects, the greater portion of 

 which were from Madras. As, however, there were some from the 

 Nilgherries, it is possible these specimens may have come from that 

 quarter. The dimensions of a skull, accompanying one of these 

 specimens, are as follows : — 



inch. lin. 



Total length of skull 3 6 



Width of skull 2 



Length of palate 1 91 



Width of palate between posterior molars . . 7^ 



Width of ditto between canines 5| 



Length from incisors to hinder portion of last 



molar 1 4| 



