OCR Text |
Show 1882.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 71 var. ochraceus; but without seeing a specimen I cannot be certain on this point. In Temminck's paper mentioned above, very nearly the same conclusions are come to with regard to these small Herpestce with black tail-tips. I am, however, disposed to demur to his statement that all the differences between what are here considered varieties are merely owing to seasonal change ; for it would be obviously improbable that all the Abyssinian specimens known should have been taken in the winter, and nine tenths of the West- and South-African specimens in the summer. No doubt, however, a certain amount of change does take place according to season ; but we cannot determine the amount of this until there are considerable series of doted specimens available for examination. 4. HERPESTES SANGUINEUS, *H. sanguineus, Riipp. N . Wirb. Abyss, p. 27, pl. viii. fig. 1 (1835). Hab. S. Egypt (Kordofan). (Types, Frankfort Museum.) Form and size much as in H. gracilis. Fur short and rather harsh. General colour very pale fawn. Hairs annulated with brown and yellowish white, the latter predominating, and so arranged that there is an appearance of cross stripes on the posterior half of the back. Tail with longer hairs, which are annulated with black and white, though the black is not at all conspicuous. Tail-tip yellowish red, sharply separated from the rest. Feet nearly white. Dimensions. Head and body. Tail. Hind foot. a. Kordofan (Riippell) .... 12*2' 11*9 2*1 b. „ „ .... 12*0 12*2 - c. >> 11-9 10-8 1*9 Skull. Palate- Palate- Inc. to Length. Breadth. length. breadth. cross line. a, .. 2*35 1*15 1*18 0*73 0*82 This species, hitherto only found in Kordofan, is evidently a desert form, having the sandy coloration usually found in animals inhabiting sandy plains. Dr. Riippell seems to have found it numerous, as he brought home five or six specimens. He states that it lives in holes in the ground, among bushes, and that, though fierce when wild, it is yet easily tamable. Herr von Heuglin also found it, though not commonly, in the same region. Dr. Riippell states that there are in H. sanguineus only 22 caudal vertebrae, while there are 25 in H. gracilis and 28 in H. ichneumon. Not havin°- any material on which to found similar observations, I cannot sa/whether these numbers are constant or not; but a consi- |