2. HEHPESTBS. 147 



two species are very similar ; but tte teeth of H.eaffer are consider- 

 ably longer, stronger, and rather wider proportionately, especially 

 the tubercular teeth. Length of skull 4 inches ; width at zygomatic 

 arch 2A inches, of middle of brain-case Ig inch. Lower jaw very 

 shelving in front, with a prominence on the lower edge under the 

 end of the tooth-Hne ; false grinders f ; tubercular moderate, oblong, 

 with two anterior lateral and one larger posterior prominence, 

 ■^e great difference between the skulls of these two species, 

 yiQ so like externally, should act as a caution to naturalists, 

 / iplain 80 frequently that species are often separated on too 

 ^S^ ^,<!xternal characters. Temminck, for example, would unite 

 H, ichneumon, H. caffer, and H. Widdringfonii as one species, and at 

 most only as "permanent local varieties," whatever those may be. 



3. Herpestes dorsalis. 



" Back with a narrow, moderately distinct, golden-yellow stripe 

 from nose to tip of tail, and another on each side of the face, which 

 diverges from the front, passes over the eyes, and terminates on the 

 side of the head. 



Ichneumon pharaonis, var., A. Smith, S. A. Q. J. p. 49. 

 "Eah. South Africa. 

 " Length — head and body 18 inches ; tail 15 inches (not adult)." 



4. Herpestes Widdringtonii. B.M. 



Like H. pharaonis ; but fur shorter, under-fur more abundant and 

 longer, giving the animal a reddish tint ; tail pencilled, distinct, but 

 shorter. 



Herpestes Widdringtonii, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. ix. p. 49, 1842 ; 

 P. Z. S. 1864, p. 549. 



Hah. South of Europe ; Sierra Morena ( Widdrington). 



5. Herpestes ntuuidiauus. B.M. 



Like H. ichneumon, but blacker ; the rings of the hairs very distinct ; 

 throat, legs, and feet black. 



Herpestes numidianus, F. Cuvier, Mamm. Lith. t. ; Verreaux, MS. ; 

 Oray,P.Z.S.l?M,^.5GQ. 



Hah. Fumidia ( Verreaux). 



6. Herpestes madagascariensis. 



" Hair of the head, throat, breast, belly, and lower part of the 

 extremities short, that of the other parts longer. The colour of the 

 upper and lateral parts of head and of lower parts of extremities 

 brown-red, freely speckled 'with black and white; the upper and 

 lateral parts of the neck, body, and the whole of the tail speckled, 

 being black, brown-red, and pale reddish white, each hair annul ated 

 with these three colours, which are darkest upon the back ; throat 



1,2 



