62 



EINAR LÖNNBERG, MA »IM ALS COLLECTED IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 



Mungos paludinosus conf. rubescens Hollister. 



Two specimens probably from Rutshuru, only one of bhem with a skull. 



As the fauna at the locality mentioned chiefly is of a West African type it appeared 

 to be of interest to compare these specimens in the first rank with western specimens of 

 the Marsh Mungoose group. The investigation showed then very soon that the affinities 

 were not to be found in the west, but as complete descriptions of some western represen- 

 tatives of this group of Mungooses may prove to be of value at future studies, I ha ve de- 

 cided to publish the following notes, the more so as I have been able to receive some 

 direct knowledge about Temminck's »Herpestes pluto». The relation of this form to 

 the Cameroon Marsh Mungoose has been rather obscure to me hitherto, but the informa- 

 tion, which I have now been able to obtain, may be useful to others, and is thus included. 



The following measurements indicate the dimensions of the type-skulls of Tem- 

 minck's »Herpestes pluto», which the present author has had the pleasure of measuring 

 thanks to the great kindness of the director of the Rijks Museum van Natuurlijke Histo- 

 rie in Leiden, Dr. E. D. van Oort. 



Greafcest length 



Condyloincisive length 



Basal length 



Zygomatic breadth 



Interorbital broadth 



Least postorbital breadth 



Distance from orbit to gnathion 



Palatal length from gnathion 



Palato breadth outsido p* (posteriorly) . . . 

 Combined breadth of npper incisors .... 



P s 



Longest diameter of p* 



Length on outer side of p 4 



Transverse diameter of p* 



m 1 



m 2 



Back of m 2 to front of canine 



Length of lowor jaw 



It is especially noteworthy that very small p 1 are present only in one of the speci- 

 mens which is signed » ? ». In the other there is no trace of p x and the diastema is sliort. 

 Both specimens are fully adult with well developed crista sagittalis. The upper canines 

 of both specimens are provided with well developed sharp knif e-like edges as well in front 

 as behind, and these edges are by a fluting or groove both on the inner and the outer side 

 separated from the central cone of the tooth. Thanks to this the upper canines look 

 very broad when viewed from the side, their greatest antero-posterior diameter in the 

 male amounting to 7 mm. 



a" 



9 (?) 



108,5 mm. 



107 mm. 



98,7 » 



97,2 » 



93,0 



91,5 



5S,6 » 



— 



18,7 » 



19 



15,8 » 



17,6 



32,3 » 



32,0 



59,7 » 



— 



36,4 



34 



12,6 



13,7 » 



6,5X5,1 » 



6,2X5,3 » 



11,7 » 



11 



9,8 » 



9,3 » 



8,2 



8,2 » 



10X7 ■> 



9,5X6,7 » 



6X3 



6X3 » 



36,8 » 



37,3 » 



70 » 



— 



