68 EINAR LÖNNBERG, MAMMALS COLLECTED BY THE SWEDISH ZOOLOGICAL EXPEDITION ETC. 
This Mungoose is probably nearly related to M. s. ibece but it is smaller, the 
length of the hind foot of the latter being 60 mm., to maximum 57 mm. in the pre- 
sent subspecies. With regard to the colour the Mungoose from the thornbush country 
north of Guaso Nyiri evidently is paler than its relative in the Kikuyu country. 
The skull is also smaller in the present subspecies than in M. s. ibee. 
Perhaps there is also a close relationship between this Mungoose and M. s. 
gracilis, but the latter has a larger hind foot, longer tail and smaller skull. The 
colour is perfectly different as well. There is in these specimens from Guaso Nyiri 
no likeness whatever in colour with RöPPELL's figure of Herpestes gracilis,' nor can 
they be termed »gelbgrau» (RUPPELL 1. c. p. 29), nor »pinkish drab»> (WROUGHTON 
ae p ELI KSNG) 
In spite of these differences there is no doubt that gracilis, ibece and the pre- 
sent specimens only represent geographical modifications of the same animal. This 
Mungoose was rather common in the thornbush along the northern bank of Guaso 
Nyiri below Chanler Falls. 
Just south of Fort Hall in a place where high grass grew on both sides of the 
road I saw during the march at four different opportunities small Mungooses run 
across the road beyond range for the shotgun. As Fort Hall is the type locality of 
Mungos gracilis ibee WROoUGHTON there can be no doubt that these animals belonged 
to the species mentioned which accordingly must be common there. A couple of 
times a glimpse of similar animals was seen in shambas near Kutu and at some 
other localities. 
Mungos sanguineus orestes HELLER. . 
HELLER: Smiths. Misc. Coll. Vol. 56 N:o 17 p. 15. Washington 1911. 
A specimen closely agreeing with HELLER's description of the type specimen 
from Kenia of this Mungoose was caught at Meru boma '/2 1911. The measurements 
of the skull as well agree with those recorded for the type. 
With regard to the shape of the anteriorly swollen braincase this Mungoose 
appears to be perhaps more nearly related to the ochraceus-group, although it is of 
large size, but all these Mungooses with black-tipped tail may most suitably be 
regarded as geographic races of one and the same type. 
The type-locality of M. s. orestes is the »west slope of Mt. Kenia, altitude 
8,500 feet». It was thus of interest to find it at Meru boma viz. at the northeastern 
corner of the forest region the centre of which is Mount Kenia. It forms thus evi- 
dently a race adapted to these dark forests with their greater humidity which explains 
the melanistic tendency in its coloration. 
Its nearest relative may be M. s. proteus THOMAS from Ruwenzori which also 
is a dark Forest Mungoose. 
1 Taf. 8 fig. 2 in »Neue Wirbeltiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig». Frankfurt a, M. 1835. 
