ox THE EXTERXAL CHARACTERS OF MONGOOSES. 349 



11. On the External Characters of the Mongooses (Mun- 

 gotidic). By R. I. PococK, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S.,. 

 (;urator of Mammals. 



[Received February 22, 1916 : Read April 18, 1916.] 

 (Text-figures 1-10.) 



Index. p^^^, 



The Ear, Vibriss^B and Rhinarium 351 



The Feet 357 



The Glandular Anal Sac 366 



Function of the Anal Sac 373 



The External Genitalia 374 



Introdtiction. 



The facts recorded in this paper are based mainly vipon an 

 examination in the Society's Prosectorium of examples of the 

 following genera and species, which have been exhibited during 

 the past ten years in the Zoological Gardens : — 



Mungos mungo, the common Indian Mongoose ; many spe- 

 cimens of both sexes. 

 ,, smithii ; one female example from Ceylon. 

 ,, auropunctatus ; two examples from Nepal and Ohitta- 



gong. 

 ,, hrachyurus ; one example from the Malay Peninsula, 

 only superficially examined, without dra'wings being 

 made. 

 /^'/<o77<3 Ti^^f^ gracilis ; one u^nlocalised example of this African form. 

 Helogale undalata ; two examples from British East Africa 

 very closely allied to this species, but with less yellow in the 

 fur. 

 Ichneuinia albicauda ; one female from the White Nile. 

 Atilax 2^cdiidinosus ; one male from South Africa. 

 Gynictis penicillata ; one example from South Africa. 

 Ariela fasciata ; one female example from the Sudan, repre- 

 senting a local race of this species. 

 Crossarchus ohscurus ; two examples, male and female, from 



West Africa. 

 Siiriccita suricatta ; two examples, male and female, from 

 South Africa. 



I have also seen, in addition to a few examples of some of the 

 species above enumerated, a female specimen of Bdeogale 'puisa, 

 ticketed Zanzibar (Sir J. Kirk), preserved in alcohol in the 

 British Museum. 



Althouglx a study of the skulls and teeth has been no part of 

 my present purpose, I have made use of the characters they 



