76 THE MAMMALS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



black. The great peculiarity of this fox is, however, the presence of four pairs 

 of molar teeth in the lower jaw and either three or five in the upper; ordinary 

 dogs having three of these teeth below and two above. 



The East African large-eared fox differs from the typical Cape animal by the 

 under-parts being of a rich buff colour instead of whitish, and also by the presence 

 of a dark stripe along the upper surface of the tail. There are likewise slight 

 differences in the form of certain parts of the skull and of the fourth lower molar. 

 These differences are not, however, of more than racial value, and the animal, 

 which was described as a distinct species, should be known as 0. megalotis 

 virgatus. The interest of the occurrence of Otocyon in East Africa is that it 

 serves to connect the typical Cape animal with the extinct Indian 0. curvipalatus, 

 which is apparently the ancestral form of the genus, and thus constitutes one 

 more link in the chain of evidence in favour of a former land-bridge between 

 East Africa and India. 



striped Weasel Although the typical genus Mustela is absent, the weasel tribe, 



and Polecat. r Mustelidce, is represented in Ethiopian Africa by two species 

 remarkable for their striking black and white colouring. The first of these is the 

 striped weasel, or snake-weasel (Poecilogale albinucha), which is the sole member 

 of its genus and has a considerable range in Central and South Africa, where it 

 extends from Angola to the east coast. The elongated, weasel-like body is marked 

 along the back with black and white stripes, while the crown of the head and the 

 long-haired tail are white. This species is about the size of a weasel, but the Cape 

 polecat, or muishund (" mouse-dog "), may be compared in this respect to a polecat. 

 This species, Ictonyx, or Zorilla, striata, which ranges from Cape Colony to Benguela, 

 Uganda, and Mozambique, is black with white stripes on the upper-parts, the tail 

 being also black and white : a special feature is the presence of three white spots, 

 sometimes uniting into a band, on the head. In general habits the muishund 

 much resembles a polecat; but it cannot climb, although it is a good swimmer. 

 It is not a little remarkable that both these evil-smelling creatures, which no other 

 animal will touch, have the same type of colouring and the same way of carrying 

 their tails as skunks. The Cape polecat is represented in Somalilancl and southern 

 Egypt by /. erythraice, in Kordofan by i". frenata, in Senegal and Central Africa 

 by /. senegalensis, and in Abyssinia, Algeria, Sennar, and Egypt by /. lybica, 

 referred to in the preceding chapter as being also found in Asia Minor and the 

 vicinity of Constantinople. 



To the same family belongs the South African ratel or honey- 

 badger (Mellivora ratel), the typical representative of a genus else- 

 where represented in India. Ratels feed on honey, when it is to be obtained, and 

 are said to follow the birds known as honey-guides in their search for this luxury. 

 Failing honey, they are carnivorous, although they will also devour insects and 

 fruits. When these bold animals are in a good temper, they purr like cats, when 

 hungry they squeal, and when angry grunt and snarl, defending themselves fiercely 

 with teeth and claws. While feeding they hold their food between their claws, 

 which are curved inwards, resting their fore-legs on the ground, and supporting 

 the rear of the body on the hind-feet. Grey above and black beneath, the South 

 African ratel is distinguished from its Indian cousin by the presence of a white 



