68 MR. 0, THOMAS ON THE [Jan. 3, 
other specimens of both species there is no hair at all on the soles 
from toes to heel. And as to the length of the hallux, in the hairy- 
soled forms of the two species its claw reaches to within 0°23 and 
0:27 in. from the most anterior point of the large central foot-pad, 
while in other specimens these measurements average 0°52 and 0°64 
in. respectively. 
With regard to the habits of these large Mungooses, the manner 
in which H. ichneumon destroys the eggs of the crocodile is well 
known; and there is no doubt that it is of considerable use to the 
country in this way. Smuts’ says of H. caffer :—This animal lives 
in many parts of the Cape colony, mostly in holes in the earth. It 
feeds principally upon mice, the smaller birds, and amphibians, and 
is often kept in a state of domestication on account of the services it 
renders in destroying these animals.”’ 
3. HERPESTES GRACILIS. 
a. Typical variety. 
*H, gracilis, Riipp. N. Wirb. Abyss. p. 29, pl. viii. fig. 2 (1835). 
*H, mutgigella, Riipp. t. cit. p. 29, pl. ix. fig. 1 (1835). 
Ichneumia nigricaudatus, Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, p. 18 (1839). 
H. galinieri, Guévin, Ferret & Galinier, Voy. Abyss., Atl. Zool. 
pl. i. fig. 1 (juv.) (1847-48). 
*H. punctulatus, Gray, P. Z.S. 1849, p. 11 (1849). 
H. lefebvrei, Des Murs & Prév., Lefebvre Voy. Abyss., Atl. Zool. 
pl. i. (in text H. gracilis) (1850). 
* HI. ornatus, Peters, Reise nach Mossambique, Mamm. p. 117, 
pl. xxvi. (1852). 
H. ochromelas, Puch. Rev. et Mag. Zool. vii. p. 393 (1855). 
* H. iodoprymnus, Heug]. Nov. Act. Ac. Leop. xxix. p. 23 (1861). 
H. adailensis, Heugl. Peterm. Geogr. Mittheil. 1861, p. 17 
(1861). 
H. muischeltschela, Heugl. Reise N.O. Afr. ii. p. 4] (ex Riipp.) 
(1877). 
H. ruficauda, Heugl. Reise N.O. Afr. ii. p. 43 (1877). 
Hab. Fast-African subregion—from Cape Verd round by Abys- 
sinia to Natal. 
b. Variety melanurus. 
*Cynictis melanura, Martin, P. Z. 8. 1836, p. 56 (1836). 
Hab. West-African subregion—Sierra Leone to Cameroons. 
c. Variety badius’. 
*Ichneumon ratlamuchi et cawi, A. Smith, App. Rep. 8. Afr. Exp. 
p- 42 (1836). 
2 Enum. Mamm. Cap. p. 20, 1832. ‘i 
2 T have used this name in preference to either of Dr. Smith’s previous names 
for this variety, because not only is it more classical and extremely appropriate, 
but Dr. Smith himself proposed the alteration, and therefore there can be no in- 
justice in ignoring his earlier names. 
