HEEPESTES SMITHII. 135 



129. Herpestes monticolus. 



W. Elliot, MSS. — Konda yentawa, Tel. 



The Long-tailed Mdngoos. 



Descr. — Colors much as in griseus, but somewhat more yellow in its 

 general tone; tail longer, tipped with maronne and black, and more 

 hairy ; feet dark reddish-brown ; muzzle not dark, slightly tinged with 

 reddish. Larger than griseus. Tail nearly equal in length to the head 

 and body. 



Length of one 20 inches ; tail with hair 19. 



This fine species differs conspicuously from griseus in its longer and dark 

 tipped taU, which also distinguishes it from malaccensis. It differs from 

 H. Smithii in its muzzle being concolorous with the body, or nearly so, 

 and prevalent lighter color. 



I have only procured this mungoos from the Eastern Ghats inland from , 

 Nellore, where it inhabits forests among the hills. 



It most resembles H. fulvescens, Kelaart, of Ceylon, but this has a 

 shorter tail with the tip reddish, and has a more prevalent fulvous hue. 

 The muzzle too is blackish and the face ferruginous brown. 



130. Herpestes Smithii. 



Gray. — Blyth, Cat. 162. — H. Elliotti, Blyth. — H. ruhiginosus, Kelaaet. 

 The Euddy Muitqoos. 



Descr. — General color ferruginous-brown, in some inclining to grizzled 

 maronne red, brighter where it joins the blackish limbs and black tip of 

 the tail ; muzzle dark ; face rusty red ; head and legs redder than the 

 other parts ; feet black, the hairs are ringed black and white, and have a 

 dark reddish tip. It approximates malaccensis in the character of the fur 

 and also in size. 



Length of one, head and body, 13 to 15 inches; tail 12 to 13. 



This mungoos has been taken in forest jungle among the Eastern Ghats 

 near Madras, and in other parts of the same region. I procured it in 

 forest at the foot of the Neelgherries, but did not obtain it in the Malabar 

 forests, though it most probably will be found there also. It is said to 



