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Show 1882.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 63 B. No groove from nose to upper lip. IV. Toes 5-5. e. Premolars-J *. Palate concave. Hind soles hairy V. EIUXOGAI.E. /. Premolars TJ-. Palate flat. Hind soles bald VI. CUOSSARCIIUS. V. Toes 4-4. g. Premolars f. Hind soles bald VII. SURICATA. I. HERPESTES. Type. "Mangusta, Oliv."3, Illig., Desm., Fisch., &c. .. 1 Lchneumon, Lacep. Mem. de l'lnst. iii. p. 492 (1801) (nee Linn. S. N. i. p. 930, 1766) H. ichneumon. Herpestes, Illig. Prodr. Syst. Mamm. p. 135 (1811) H. ichneumon. Atilax, F. Cuv. Hist. Nat. Mamm. iii. livr. 54 (1826) H. galera. Mungos, Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1835, p. 103 (1835). . H. vitticollis. Urva, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. vi. p. 560 (1837) H. urva. Mesobema, Hodgs. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. x. p. 910(1841) H. urva. Osmetectis, Grav, Ann. & Mag. N. H. x. p. 260 (1842) H.vrva. Calogale, Gray, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 560 (1864) .. H. nepalensis. Galerella, Gray, t. cit. p. 564 (1864) H. gracilis. Calictis, Gray, t. cit. p. 565 (1864) H. smithii. Toeniogale, Gray, t. cit. p. 569 (1864) H. vitticollis. Onychogale, Gray, t. cit. p. 570 (1864)...... H. maccarthice. Toes 5-5. Teeth, I,|, C. J, P.M. J,M. !, x 2 = 40. Underside of tarsus generally naked. Fur of two kinds, the longer usually annulated, so as to give the animal a grizzled appearance. Tail long, varying from about half to nearly equal the length of the head and body together. First toes on both fore and hind feet very small, probably nearly functionless. Claws of medium strength. Range. S. Europe, all Africa, Asia Minor, Persia, and nearly the whole of the Oriental zoological region. To this, the typical genus, belong all the Indian and nearly half of the African species. There is a great variation in size and colour among its various members ; hut the cranial characters are very fairly J In the only known specimen, very possibly not constant. 2 In all the specimens seen; but a diastema is generally present, so that there is probably a minute first premolar in immature individuals. 3 This name is frequently quoted by the early authors as having been given by Olivier; but I cannot find that it was ever usect by him. In fact, in his 'Voyage dans l'Empire Ottoman, l'Egypte et la Perse,' vol. iii. p. 100 (1804), he uses the Linnean term Viverra ichneumon. Even if, however, the name Mangusta was ever characterized before 1811, I think we should be justified in ignoring it, as it is altoo-ether barbarous, and Uliger's name has received universal acceptance. Agassiz (Nomencl. Zool. i. p. 19) cites Mangusta as having been described by Baron Cuvier in his 'Tableau Elementaire,' 1707; but there is no mention of the |