1882. ] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 63 
B, No groove from nose to upper lip. 
IV. Toes 5—5. 
ec. Premolars =}, Palate concave. Hind soleshairy V. Ruiyocauy. 
J. Premolars #°. Palate flat. Hind soles bald...... VI. Crossarcuus. 
Ve Toes 4—4. 
g. Premolars }. Hind soles bald........s..:0ce0.seeee VII. Suricara. 
I. HeRpestes. Type. 
“ Vangusta, Oliv.”®, Mllig., Desm., Fisch., ke. .. 2 
Ichneumon, Lacép. Mém. de V Inst. ii. p. 492 
(1801) (nee Linn. 8S. N. i. p. 930, 1766) ...... H. ichneumon. 
Herpestes, Ulig. Prodr. Syst. Mamm. p. 135 
(its t EO a Mere See Se rie H. ichneumon. 
Atilax, F. Cuv. Hist. Nat. Mamm. iii. livr. 
Ps eee ia pas ss > Se. as pls Gre, 
Mungos, Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1835, p. 103 (1835).. H. vitticollis. 
Urva, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vi. p. 560 
GTS), ice ae ys ere sees © ripley els = otte ... Ao urea. 
Mesobema, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. x. 
PONSA) 9S wets cee Geelel > pemmane tage Fite s HT, urva. 
Osmetectis, Gray, Ann. & Mag. N. H. x. p. 260 
Mie acres whe dae na AE Rn Welw Ryn. wields Hi, urea. 
Calogale, Gray, P. Z.S. 1864, p. 560 (1864) .. H. nepalensis. 
Galerella, Gray, t. cit. p. 564 (1864) ...... H., gracilis. 
Calictis, Gray, t. cit. p. 565 (1864).......... HH. smithii. 
Teniogale, Gray, t. cit. p. 569 (1864) ...... H. vitticollis. 
Onychogale, Gray, t. cit. p. 570 (1864)...... A. maccarthie. 
Toes 5—5. Teeth, 1.2, C. 1, P.M. {, M. >, x 2=40. Underside 
of tarsus generally naked. Fur of two kinds, the longer usually annu- 
lated, so as to give the animal a grizzled appearance. Tail long, varying 
from about half to nearly equal the length of the head and body 
together. First toes on both fore and hind feet very small, probably 
nearly functionless. Claws of medium strength. 
Range. 8. Europe, all Africa, Asia Minor, Persia, and nearly the 
whole of the Oriental zoological region. 
To this, the typical genus, belong all the Indian and nearly half 
of the African species. There is a great variation in size and colour 
among its various members ; but the cranial characters are very fairly 
! Jn the only known specimen, very possibly not constant. 
2 In all the specimens seen; but a diastema is generally present, so that 
there is probably a minute first premolar in immature individuals. 
8 This name is frequently quoted by the early authors as having been given 
by Olivier ; but I cannot find that it was ever used by him. In fact, in his ‘Voyage 
dans 1’Empire Ottoman, I’Egypte et la Perse,’ vol. iii, p. 100 (1804), he uses the 
Linnean term Viverra ichneumon. Even if, however, the name Mangusta was 
ever characterized before 1811, I think we should be justified in ignoring it, as 
it is altogether barbarous, and Illiger’s name has received universal acceptance. 
Agassiz (Nomenel. Zool. i. p. 19) cites Mangusta as haying been described by 
Baron Cuvier in his ‘Lableau Elémentaire,’ 1797; but there is no mention of the 
genus in that work. 
