7° 



2 HE MAMMALS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



common to the south of the Zambesi. The bushy-tailed mongooses, of which two 

 species, Gynictis penicillata and C. selousi, are known, are South and East African. 

 The cusimanse (Crossarchus obscurus) is the western representative of a more 

 numerous and more widely spread African genus of the group, of which the banded 

 mongoose (0. fasciatus) is another member. The five- toothed mongoose (Helogale 

 parvula), of West and East Africa, forms another genus, doubtfully distinct from 

 Herpestes itself. Very distinct are the four-toed mongooses, as represented by 

 Bdeogale nigripes, of West, and B. crassicauda and B. puisa of East. Africa. Yet 

 another generic type is formed by Rhynchogale melleri of East Africa, a large red 

 species, with five toes to each foot, and the lower surface of the upper part of the 

 hind-feet hairy. Finally, we have the well-known meerkat (Suricata tetradactyla) 

 of the Orange River Colony, the Transvaal, and Cape Colony. In this pretty little 

 animal the limbs are four-toed, and the claws of the fore-feet double the length of 





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Aard-Wolf. 



those of the hind-pair, while the number of the teeth is thirty-six. The muzzle is 

 elongated, the black ears are carried close to the head, a black patch surrounds each 

 eye, and the general colour is grizzled grey. The meerkat dwells in large colonies 

 on the karu, where it digs its own burrows ; and it is a favourite animal as a pet, 

 soon learning to follow its master like a clog. 



In some degree connecting the civets with the hysenas, the aard- 

 wolf (Proteles cristatus) is an altogether peculiar African animal, 

 whose range extends along the east coast from Somaliland to Cape Colony, and on 

 the western side at least as far north as Angola. Externally this remarkable 

 animal much resembles a small narrow-striped hyaena, but is distinguished by its 

 longer ears, more pointed muzzle, and the presence of five toes on the fore-feet. In 

 several other respects it differs so markedly from the hyaenas as to justify its 

 reference to a family group by itself. Several local races of aard-wolf, or maned 

 jackal, as the creature is called in the Transvaal, are now recognised. In habits 

 aard-wolves are nocturnal. During the daylight hours they sometimes sleep in 



