1882. ] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 71 
var, ochraceus ; but without seeing a specimen I cannot be certain 
on this point, 
In Temminck’s paper mentioned above, very nearly the same con- 
clusions are come to with regard to these small Herpeste with black 
tail-tips. I am, however, disposed to demur to his statement that 
all the differences between what are here considered varieties are 
merely owing to seasonal change; for it would be obviously impro- 
bable that all the Abyssinian specimens known should have been 
taken in the winter, and nine tenths of the West- and South-African 
specimens in the summer. No doubt, however, a certain amount of 
change does take place according to season ; but we cannot deter- 
mine the amount of this until there are considerable series of dated 
specimens available for examination, 
4, HERPESTES SANGUINEUS. 
*H. sanguineus, Riipp. N. Wirb. Abyss. p. 27, pl. viii. fig. 1 (1835), 
Hab. 8. Egypt (Kordofan). 
(Types, Frankfort Museum.) Form and size much as in H. gra- 
cilis. Fur short and rather harsh. General colour very pale fawn. 
Hairs annulated with brown and yellowish white, the latter predo- 
winating, and so arranged that there is an appearance of cross 
stripes on the posterior half of the back. Tail with longer hairs, 
which are annulated with black and white, though the black is not 
at all conspicuous. ‘Tail-tip yellowish red, sharply separated from 
the rest. Feet nearly white. 
Dimensions. 
Head 
and body. Tail. Hind foot. 
a. Kordofan (Riippell) .... 12°2 11°9 21 
b. 5 + eee wD 12°2 _ 
C a = pee tle o 10°8 1:9 
Skull. 
Palate- Palate- Ine. to 
Length. Breadth, length. breadth, cross line. 
Wa sooo 11) B® 1:18 0°73 0°82 
This species, hitherto only found in Kordofan, is evidently a 
desert form, having the sandy coloration usually found in animals 
inhabiting sandy plains. Dr. Riippell seems to have found it 
numerous, as he brought home five or six specimens. He states 
that it lives in holes in the ground, among bushes, and that, though 
fierce when wild, it is yet easily tamable. Herr von Heuglin also 
found it, though not commonly, in the same region. 
Dr. Riippell states that there are in H7. sanguineus only 22 caudal 
vertebrae, while there are 25 in H. gracilis and 28 in H. ichnewmon. 
Not having any material on which to found similar observations, I 
cannot say whether these numbers are constant or not ; but a consi- 
