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Show 1882.] AFRICAN MUNGOOSES. 83 gradually fills up, but never produces the row of small holes found in Suricata. Other characters as in Herpestes. This genus is a very distinct and well marked one, not only on account of its different number of digits, but also of the fact that its skull is very differently shaped from that of Herpestes, more resembling that of Suricata than that of any of the genera of this section. In Smuts's work on the Mammals of the Cape, published a year before Mr. Ogilby described the genus, the absence of the hallux in this form was noticed, and Dr. Smuts stated his opinion that a special genus ought to be formed for it. He did not, however, give it a name, so that that given by Mr. Ogilby stands unaltered. The only well authenticated species is 1. CYNICTIS PENICILLATA. Herpestes penicillatus, G. Cuv. R. A. (edit. 2), i. p. 158 (1829). Mangusta levaillantii, A. Smith, Zool. Journ. iv. p. 437 (1829). * Cynictis steedmanni, Ogilby, P.Z.S. 1833, p. 49 (1833). Cynictis typicus, Smith, S. Afr. Quart. Journ. ii. p. 116 (1835). *C.ogilbii, Sm. t. cit. p. 117(1835); 111. Zool. S. Afr. pl. 16(1849). Ichneumia albescens, Geoff. Mag. Zool. 1839, pl. 12 (figure, not description) (1839). *C. leptura, Smith, 111. Zool. S. Afr. pl. 17 (1849). Hab. Cape Colony. Size medium ; form slender, head rather small in proportion. Tail about the length of the body without the head, very bushy. Colour varying from dark yellow (C. steedmanni) to light yellowish grey (C. ogilbii) ; longer hairs with their basal halves light yellow, then with a black subterminal ring, and their tips white. The variation in the general colour is caused by the different lengths of these white tips to the hairs. Underfur rich yellow. Chin white; belly and legs rather paler than back. Tail very bushy, the hairs often over 2 inches in length, and coloured like the longer back-hairs-namely, first yellow, then black, and the tips white. Hairs at tip of tail white to their roots. Dental percentages 57-66. Tail, Hind foot. 9*0 3*0 9*0 3*0 9*3 3-1 Basi- Palate- Inc. to cranial breadth, cross line. axis. •90 -97 -92 •87 -95 - •90 *98 - 6* Dimensions. Head and body. A. Type of C. ogilbii 15*0 b. S. Africa 15*0 c. „ 15-5 Skulls. Palate- Length. Breadth, length. fl. Type of C. ogilbii 2*65 1*6 1-42 b. Type of C. Upturns (c) 2*69 1*61 1*39 c. Type of C. steedmanni (c) 2*68 1*56 1*41 |