88 MR. O, THOMAS ON THE (Jan. 3, 
Skull. Basi- 
Palate- Palate- Ine. to cranial 
Length. Breadth. length. breadth. cross line. axis. 
a. W. Africa 
C112) Ree 4g oe 1°54 1°6 *85 97 — 
6. Zool. Soc... 2°8 1°43 1°6 "84 "96 "84 
Cea ren s ee rre at 1:39 1:55 °85 98 — 
This species is a very well known and fairly common one, though 
it seems to be quite restricted to the West-African subregion. Its 
superficial likeness to small dark-coloured specimens of Herpestes 
galera has already been refered to above’. 
A specimen in the Berlin Museum has the following note attached 
to it:—* Bores in the earth with its nose after insects.” 
2. CROSSARCHUS GAMBIANUS. 
* Herpestes gambianus, Ogilby, P. Z.S. 1835, p. 102. 
Mungos gambianus, Gray, P. Z.S. 1864, p. 575. 
Hab. Gambia. 
Size, form, and general coloration much as in C. fasciatus (q. Vv.) ; 
but the hairs on the back placed, so to speak, without reference to 
their rings, so that there is no trace of cross bands, but only a 
general grizzled appearance; and thus the posterior part of the body 
only differs from the head and shoulders in being more rufous. 
Neck and chest white; on the sides of the neck a distinct black 
streak separating the upper and lower colours, in this respect 
reminding one of Herpestes vitticollis, Benn. 
Skull broad and heavy as in C. fasciatus. Teeth small, as in 
C. obscurus and zebra. P.M* only 6mm. long. Dental percentage 
80. 
Dimensions. 
Head and 
body. Tail. | Hind foot. 
a, Gambia (type)........ 150 ne 2°5 
Shull. Basi- 
Palate- Palate- Inc. to cranial 
Length, Breadth. length. breadth. cross line. axis. 
a. Type. sae. 1 2:85 1:58 1:43 “84 "92 — 
This species is very interesting as showing what a comparatively 
unimportant character the presence of cross bands on the back is. 
Its coloration is extremely similar to that of C. fasciatus ; ‘yet 
by a simple disarrangement of the hairs of the back, all the broad 
distinct cross bands vanish, and the back only presents a coarse 
grizzled rufous-grey colour. 
The type was collected by Mr. Rendall on the river Gambia, 
whence, at about the same time, a second specimen (immature) was 
sent to the late Lord Derby. Both these specimens are now in the 
emt: 
