164 HERPESTID^. 



Ichneumia, I. Geoff. Compt. Rend. 1837, p. 582 ; Mag. Zool. 1839, 



pp. 13 & 31 ; Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 566. 

 Lasiopiis, JE. Geoff. Cours del' Hist, Nat. des Mamm. p. 57, 1835. 



The most Viverrine form of this family. 



M. Geoffroy separates this genus on account of its peculiar den- 

 tition, which he describes : — false grinders f , true ^, tubercular ^ 

 (Mag. Zool. 1839, p. 13). M. Geoffroy's iigures are lower on their 

 legs and more vermiform than our specimen of 7. albicauda. 



Dr. A. Smith, when first describing this species, observed, " Its 

 teeth exhibit a slight difference in form, and are not so closely set 

 as in the true Ichneumons. This peculiarity, in addition to the 

 state of the soles of the feet, may, when its manners and habits are 

 better known, require it to be separated from the present genus " 

 (South African Quart. Joum. p. 52, 1834). 



" Shorter and more robust, and stands higher on its hmbs, than 

 Herpestes." — A. Smith. 



1. Ichneumia albicauda. B.M. 



Tail white nearly to the base. 



Ichneumia albicauda, /. Gecff. Mag. Zool. 1839, pp. 13, 35, 1. 11 ; Ctray, 



P. Z /SI 864, p. 566. 

 Herpestes albicaudua, Oumier, Sig. Anim. ed. 2, 1834. 

 Herpestes albicaudatus, A. Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Joum. p. 181, 



1834. 

 Mangusta albicauda, De Blainv. OMogr. Viverra, 1. 12 (teeth). 



Hah. Africa : Port Natal {A. Smith) ; Senegal (Heudelot) ; Ga- 

 1am (Belamhre). 



2. Ichnenmia lencura. 



Herpestes leucums, Ehrenh. Sgm. Phys. Mamm. t. 12, cop. Schreb. 



Sdugeth. t. 116. 

 Ichneumia leucura, Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 566. 



Hob. East Africa : Nubia and Dongola (Ehrenh.). 

 This may be the same as the preceding. See observations of M. 

 I. Geoffrey, Mag. Zool. 1839, p. 14, note. 



3. Ichneumia albescens. 



Pale brown ; tip of tail white. 



Ichneumia albescens, I. Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, p. 35, t. 12 : Gray, 

 P. Z.& 4864, p. 566. 



Hah. East Africa : Sennaar (Botta). 



Skull ovate, swollen ; the brain-cavity one-half the length ; nose 

 shelving ; forehead and crown rather convex ; orbit incoinplete be- 

 hind. False grinders I- ; the third triangular, sides of equal length, 

 with an internal tubercle on the hinder edge. The flesh -tooth tri- 

 angular, rather longer than wide in front, narrow behind; the in- 

 ternal tubercle anterior, rounded internally. The tubercular grinders 

 large, oblong, trigonal, about half as wide again as long ; the hinder 

 rather the smallest (see I. Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, t. 13). 



