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Show 1882.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 65 Tail. 170 16*0 150 16*0 150 Hind foot2 3*7 3*8 3*4 3*4 3*4 Skull comparatively short and broad, the breadth nearly always more than half the length (49-56 per cent.). Teeth slender and sharp, the last molar less than half the length of the 4th premolar (42-48 per cent.). Dimensions. Head and body1. a. Spain (type of H. widdringtoni). . 20*0 b. Egypt 21*0 c. Palestine (Tristram) 21*0 d. Andalusia (Lord Lilford) 21*0 e. Morocco (Parzudaki) 20*5 Skulls. Inc. to Basi- Palate- Palate- cross cranial Length3. Breadth', length.5 breadth0, line7. axis8. a. Spain (Zool. Soc.) 4*05 2*25 2*28 1*30 1*34 b. Egypt 3*85 2*04 2*20 1*24 1*40 1*41 C.N.Africa 3*7 2*0 1*93 1*17 1*30 1*4 For dimensions of teeth, see p. 78. 1 From the tip of the nose to the root of the tail, along the curves. Unless otherwise stated, the measurements are taken from stuffed specimens. 3 Without the claws. 3 From the front of the pra?maxilla3 to the most posteriorpoint of either of the occipital condyles. 4 Greatest breadth across zygomata. 5 From the front of the prajmaxillas to the end of the bony palate. 0 Between the points at which P.M4 and M 1 touch each other at their outer edges. 7 From the front of the pramiaxillaj to a point on the palate midway between those mentioned under 6. 8 From the central point of the posterior edge of the basioccipital to the anterior edge of the lower surface of the prtesphenoid. It will be seen that, of these skull-measurements, Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are the same as those adopted by Prof. Huxley in his recent paper on the Canida? (P. Z. S. 1880, p. 243). I do not, however, think that the measurement of "total length " used by him is at all satisfactory, as the occipital spine, to the tip of which he measures, varies greatly with the age of the individual, and also between different species-some forms developing a bony crest comparatively early, and others, even when quite old, having scarcely any at all. These objections do not apply to measuring from the posterior point of the condyles, which is a place where no extra bony matter is added as the animal gets older. It is true that it would seem to be somewhat unnatural to measure from a central azygous point to a lateral symmetrical one; but practically the resulting dimension is so nearly exactly the same as measuring either to the upper part of the supraoccipital, not including the spine, or to the centre of the same bone just above the foramen magnum, that this objection is overbalanced by the convenience of measuring to- the most posterior non-varying point of the skull, and a point which can always be used with such extreme exactitude. The measurement given under PROC. ZOOL. SOC 1882 ,7 iNso a. v eVr.y useful one, as giving th5e true length |
