718 Mil. A. LOVERIDQE : NOTES ON 



purchased it. It is veiy dark in colour and the white hairs 

 of the tail are concealed by longer blackish ones, so that it 

 presents a very dift'erent appearance from the typical white-tailed 

 individuals. 



A female killed at Tindiga on 10. ii.21 had two fcictuses, those 

 on 18 and 24. viii, 21 none, 



0;i 1. i. 23 I was given a young male by Capt. Turnley, at Avhicli 

 time its coat was gi'ey and very woolly, but long black hairs were 

 showing thickly on the nape and fore-parts. " 



It liked being picked up and petted and would lie on its back 

 in one's arms most contentedly. When very pleased it licked one 

 after the manner of a cat. One's nose seemed to be a cause of 

 offence, for if lying on a sofa or in any position where it could be 

 reached, the mungoose would attack it fiercely. With this 

 exception, it never attempted to bite except in play. 



It enjoyed' a game — usually started then> in fact. One 

 favourite pastime — after having located a safe retreat under a 

 cupboard or other piece of furniture — was to steal forth with the 

 greatest caution, then, feigning alarm, to scuttle and scramble back 

 with much noise. After repeating this performance several times 

 in the hope that you will chase it back, which it considers great 

 sport, and failing to attract your attention, it will approach very 

 silently and bite your heel or give you a pat with its claws and 

 then tear madly back to its retreat. If you still refuse to come 

 and play, it attacks your shoe-laces and ' rags ' them with great 

 abandon. 



It showed great alarm of sudden noises, and the hairs of its 

 white tail immediately stand on end as does its back fur to some 

 extent ; it spits most explosively. It has a wonderful variety of 

 sounds at its command, one of contentment is almost indistin- 

 guishable from that made by the young lUue Moiikey, and is 

 something like ' urrr.' 



After I had had it two months I went on safari, and almost the 

 first night it was turned loose in the tent it was scared by the 

 sudden entrance of a, native and ran out into the bush, never to 

 I'eturn. 



It showed great fondness for the pupje of moths and wasps, and 

 broke open the mud nests of the latter with its strong claws, but 

 never in my experience touched the grubs. It often rejected the 

 bread in its bread and milk, but liked sweetened condensed milk 

 and eggs. Chicken bones would be picked clean and greatly 

 ajjpreciated. Ilice, mashed potatoes, and porridge were taken 

 readily. 



The stomachs of the wild adults collected contained the follow- 

 ing : — (i.) Grass, leaves, termites. This individual was trapped 

 whilst attempting to enter a fowl-house, (ii.) Remains of fowl, 

 crickets, paupau skin, (iii-) Grasshoppers, (iv.) Termites. 



Fleas (Ctenocephalu$ fells) and ticks were found in the fur, 

 and cestodes {Spharyanuvi sp.) between skin and llesh. Two 

 individuals had numerous screw-worms in viscera. 



