56 



SOUTH AFEICAN MAMMALS 



series of skins. As far as I can judge from the examples 

 which have passed through my hands in the Zoological 

 Gardens, the younger animals possess these dark edges 

 to the blotches, and the older the animal becomes the 

 paler the blotches get, and the fainter the rings appear. 

 I make this assertion as I have received several half- 

 grown animals with the blotches of a reddish-brown, and 

 the dark rings very pronounced, while others again — the 

 largest received, and seemingly old animals — were with 

 paler spots without the darker margins, or these but 

 faintly discernible. Legs pale greyish-fawn, only the 

 soles of the hind feet being dark brown. The spots of 

 the lower half of the hind legs are dark brown, as well as 

 the rings of the tail. This species is apparently not 

 found south of the Central Transvaal, except on the 

 east. The Zoo has had examples from the Pretoria 

 district, Tzaneen and Natal. 



Genetta tigrina. Large Black-spotted Genet. 

 Groot Zioartgevlekte Mosiliaat Kat. 



Ground colour grey, of a paler tint, shaded with yel- 

 lowish in some individuals. There is a black stripe along 

 the back. The sides of the body are spotted with large 

 squared blotches of black, arranged in three longitudinal 

 rows. Ears sparsely clothed with white hairs. Legs, 

 from above the elbow joints downwards, of a black 

 colour. Tail long and ringed with black and whitish, 

 the tip being black. Length of head and body about 

 23 inches, tail 17 to 18 inches. The animal is fairly 

 common in the Cape Province, but does not seem to be 

 found north of the Orange Eiver. The Zoo has had 

 examples from Kingwilliamstown and Mowbray, C.C. 



