PIGMY MONGOOSE 61 



the sportsman-naturalist. The sub-species usually found 

 in the collection of the Pretoria Zoo is 'H. gracilis 

 typious, and we have obtained examples from the Pretoria 

 district, where it may usually be found in stone walls or 

 rocky kopjes. 



If captured young it makes a tame and amusing little 

 pet, but does not become so confiding nor so tame as 

 the Suricate. It is, like its congeners, practically a 

 carnivore, but it will devour insects such as grasshoppers, 

 locusts, &c., and birds' eggs, whenever opportunity offers. 



There are several other species of Herpestes (or 

 Mongos, as they have also been called generically), viz., 

 H. ruddi, H. punctatissimus, which we have so far not 

 met with. 



Genus HELOGALE. 

 Pigmy Mongoose. Diverg Kommetje Kat. 



Body slender and legs short ; tail tapering. Naked 

 line between nose and upper hp. Tarsus naked; five 

 toes to each foot. Teeth 36 (i., § ; c. i ; p.m. |; m. |). 



The Pigmy Mongoose (if. parvula), and its Eastern 

 representative, but recently described, H. hrunnula, are 

 the smallest members of the Viverridce, being only 

 8 to 9 inches long, with a tail another 5^- mches. 



The former is of a dark grizzly grey brown, and the 

 latter of a dark speckly brownish-slate colour. We have 

 possessed quite a number of the latter species from 

 Hectorspruit, in the Middleburg district of the Central 

 Transvaal, and from the Eustenburg and Pretoria Bush- 

 veld. At first they are of a wild, shy, and retiring nature, 

 dashing into their caves or grottoes at the least external 

 disturbance, or at the approach of anyone, but after 

 some months they become tamer, and will allow them- 

 selves to be seen. We have fed them upon finely chopped 



