1882. | AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 83 
gradually fills up, but never produces the row of small holes found 
in Suricata. Other characters as in Herpestes. 
This genus is a very distinct and well marked one, not only on 
account of its different number of digits, but also of the fact that its 
skull is very differently shaped from that of Herpestes, more resem- 
bling that of Suricata than that of any of the genera of this section. 
In Smuts’s work on the Mammals of the Cape, published a year 
before Mr. Ogilby described the genus, the absence of the hallux in 
this form was noticed, and Dr. Smuts stated his opinion that a special 
genus ought to be formed for it. He did not, however, give it a 
name, so that that given by Mr. Ogilby stands unaltered. 
The only well authenticated species is 
1. CyNICTIS PENICILLATA. 
Herpestes penicillatus, G. Cuv. R. A. (edit. 2), i. p. 158 (1829). 
Mangusta levaillantii, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 437 (1829), 
*Cynictis steedmanni, Ogilby, P. Z.S. 1833, p. 49 (1833). 
Cynictis typicus, Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 116 (1835). 
*C. ogilbii, Sm. t. cit. p. 117 (1885); Ill. Zool. 8. Afr. pl. 16 (1849). 
Ichneumia albescens, Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, pl. 12 (figure, not 
description) (1839). 
*C. leptura, Smith, Ill. Zool. S. Afr. pl. 17 (1849). 
Hab. Cape Colony. 
Size medium ; form slender, head rather small in proportion. Tail 
about the length of the body without the head, very bushy. Colour 
varying from dark yellow (C. steedmanni) to light yellowish grey 
(C. ogilbiz) ; longer hairs with their basal halves light yellow, then 
with a black subterminal ring, and their tips white. The variation 
in the general colour is caused by the different lengths of these white 
tips to the hairs. Underfur rich yellow. Chin white; belly and 
legs rather paler than back. Tail very bushy, the hairs often over 
2 inches in length, and coloured like the longer back-hairs—namely, 
first yellow, then black, and the tips white. Hairs at tip of tail 
white to their roots. Dental percentages 57-66. 
Dimensions. 
Head and 
body. Tail. Hind foot. 
a. Type of C. ogilbit ...... 15:0 9:0 3:0 
SiS eAtriea th: ...380 fee 4see 1500 9:0 3°0 
c. 3 suseeeepta COR Ses 9°3 oil 
Skulls. Basi- 
Palate- Palate- Inc. to cranial 
Length. Breadth. length. breadth. cross line, axis. 
a. Type of C. ogilbii 2°65 = 1°6 1°42 90 97 92 
b. Type of C. lep- 
turus ...... Ge haeeiy sleGil. 9 1:39, iin Azrameinlai buns 
c. Type of C. steed- 
manni..,... (ec) 268 1:56 144 "90 *98 a 
