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Show 176 MESSRS. O. THOMAS AND H. SCHWANN ON [Feb. 2, and body, broad rather than round, very bushy, the breadth across the outstretched tail-hairs about 5 inches, its upper surface coloured like the back; the terminal two inches pure white ; under surface creamy proximally, becoming gradually whiter distally. Individually the hairs of the under surface are cream-buff basally and white terminally, with a dark brown subterminal band. The tail of true penicillata is much darker, being "ochraceous" above, pencilled with black, and nowhere lighter than " ochraceous-buff" below, except at the tip, the light part of which barely exceeds an inch in length and is not so pure a white as in pallidior. Dimensions of the type, measured in the flesh:-Head and body 328 mm.; tail 269 ; hind foot 76 ; ear 35. Skull-basal length 64 mm.; greatest length 70"5 mm. Type. Male. Original no. 399. Collected 7 April, 1903. This subspecies differs from the typical C. penicillata in the genex-al lighter colour of its upper surface and the much more conspicuous white tip to its tail. None of tire names currently placed as synonyms of C. penicillata appear- to refer to the Namaqua Cynictis. " ' Rooi-meerkat' of the Dutch. ' Hcryky ' of the Namaqualand Hottentots. Habits similar to those of Sitricaia sitricalla. Apparently not found in the low countx-y near- the coast."- C. H. B. G. 11. SURICATA SURICATTA Schr. Viverra suricatict, Schr. Sting, iii. pi. 117 (1776) (ex Buff.). Viverrct tetradactyla, id. t. c. p. 434 (1777). o*. 473, 536. 2 • 475, 528, 472. Klipfontein. " ' Meerkat' of the Dutch. ' Hcryky ' of the Namaqualand Hottentots. " They make their burrows in the open veldt and under the clumps of rocks scattered about the flats. Although they are seldom found in great numbers, near Pox-t Nolloth there are two or three colonies of considerable size. " In this part of the country they seem very restless, constantly shifting their quarters. " Exclusively diurnal. It is a pretty sight to see them sitting perfectly upright outside their holes, sunning themselves in tlxe early moxning. " They apparently feed principally on beetles."-C. H. B. G. 12. VULPES CHAMA Smith. o*. 410, 416, 470. $>. 424, 476, 396, 397. Klipfontein. This px-etty Fox has hithex-to been almost unrepresented in the Museum Collection, so that the present series-practically topo-typical- forms a vexy welcome accession. " ' Tc * omma yackal' of the Dutch. * T' stauds for a click. |
