1882.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 85 
may, for the present, leave it here, where it was originally placed by 
Dr. Gray. 
1. RHINOGALE MELLERI. (Plate III.) 
* Rhinogale melleri, Gray, P. Z.S. 1864, p. 375 (1864). 
Hab. “ Rast Africa.” 
Size and form much as in Herpestes ichneumon. Tail about as 
long as the body without the head. Hind soles hairy to the roots 
of the toes. General colour uniform pale brown, the longer hairs 
each with only one or two rings of brown and white, the rings 
passing so gradually into each other as to give but little general 
appearance of grizzling. Head paler, the white of the hairs showing 
more conspicuously. Underfur dark grey at its base, pale brown 
at its tip. Belly like back, but rather paler. Feet similar, but 
darker. Tail with long hairs, somewhat as in black-tailed examples 
of H, albicauda: for its basal third the hairs are uniformly brown; for 
the middle third they are white for their basal halves and black for 
their terminal; and on the terminal third they are all black; the 
tail therefore gets very gradually darker towards the end. No doubt 
other specimens would show considerable variation in the detailed 
coloration of the tail. 
Skull as described above in the generic diagnosis. 
Teeth rounded, the posterior molars worn flat in the only specimen. 
Dental percentage 73. In the lower jaw the posterior molar is 
remarkably large, being precisely as long as the preceding tooth ; 
while the species which most approaches it in this character, Bdeogale 
puisa, has the last only 85 per cent. of the first molar, and the 
others of this group range downwards from 85 to 45 per cent., the 
proportions of these two teeth following with great regularity those 
of the upper teeth, of which the percentages are given in detail. 
Dimensions. 
Head and 
body. Tail. Hind foot. 
a. Type, E. Africa...... 22:0 15°5 3°8 
Skull. Bast- 
Palate- Palate- Inc.to cranial 
Length, Breadth. length. breadth. cross line. axis. 
a.'Type: .. © 3°38 1°85 1:78 1°05 1:22 1-14 
The type specimen of this species, though obtained by Dr. Meller 
and described nearly 20 years ago, has, as far as I know, remained 
unique up to the present time. Happily both the skull and skin are 
quite perfect, so that I have been able to make out all the more 
important characters of the species. 
With regard to the locality at which this specimen was obtained, 
it appears that the only places in East Africa at which Dr. Meller 
collected were (1) on the Zambesi and (2) Zanzibar; so that R. 
melleri must have come from one or the other, As of late years 
