1882. | AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 6] 
to any locality, though there is a certain tendency for all, or at least 
most of the specimens from one district to be alike in colour ; in fact, 
if this had not been so, I should not have felt justified in regarding 
the various forms even as distinct varieties. Again, H. albicauda 
varies most peculiarly in the amount of white present on the 
tail, some specimens having that member nearly entirely white and 
others wholly black, individuals of each type being moreover found 
in the heart of the district mostly inhabited by those of the other. 
Another remarkable point in connection with variation in colour is 
the fact that in certain species there seem to be two forms, one with 
annulated and the other with unannulated fur. Thus ordinary 
specimens of H. galera, Gr., have annulated fur, while others from 
various localities, among which are the types of H. pluto, Temm., 
have their longer hairs entirely unannulated. In the same way 
H. mutyigella, Riipp., seems to be the unannulated form of H. graci- 
lis, H. iodoprymnus, Heugl., being intermediate, and H. granti, Gr., 
similarly that of H. badius. It is of course possible that these two 
forms represent a seasonal change, though the few dated specimens 
that I have seen do not, on the whole, lend much support to this 
view, especially when we remember how comparatively little seasonal 
change of temperature must occur in the region with which we now 
have io deal. 
In the second place, attention should be drawn to the apparent 
frequency with which specimens of this group seem to lose the 
minute first toes on both fore and hind feet. Thus both “Cynictis” 
melanura and ‘ Galerella’’ ochracea ' owe their generic names to the 
fact of their halluces having been accidentally lost; and Bdeogale 
nigripes, Puch., has probably been referred to that genus for the 
same reason”. In the work already referred to*, Temminck has 
drawn attention to this same point, and has given several instances 
which had fallen under his own observation. The minute claw of 
the first toe is probably very easily knocked off during the skinning 
and stuffing of specimens ; and the digit itself, without the claw, is so 
small and inconspicuous that it would not be observable without the 
closest scrutiny. On the whole it would seem that though some 
few cases may occur in which the claw has either never been 
developed or has been knocked off during life, yet as a rule, so far 
as I have seen, the loss has probably occurred after death, there being 
generally distinct traces of the former presence of the claw, thus 
showing that it could not have been lost during life, for then the 
skin would presumably haye healed over the place. 
Thirdly, it is worthy of note that while the dimensions of the 
teeth are very constant, their number is by no means so: thus, one 
of our specimens of Crossarchus zebra (p. 89) has an additional 
true molar above on each side behind the two normal ones, the extra 
ones not being in any way crowded or rudimentary, but fully 
1 T have softened and opened the skin of the hind foot of the type of this 
species, and found, as I expected, a broken metatarsus, about one tenth of 
an inch in length, and of the usual thickness, adhering to the entocuneiform bone. 
2 See below, p. 77. 3 Op, cit, p. 107. 
