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Show 88 MR. O. THOMAS ON THE [Jan. 3, Skull. Length. «. W. Africa (Rich) 2*88 b. Zool. Soc.. 2*8 Breadth. 1-54 1*43 1*39 Palate-length. 1*6 1*6 1*55 Palate-breadth. •85 •84 •85 Inc. to cranial cross line. axis. •97 - •96 -84 •98 - This species is a very well known and fairly common one, though it seems to be quite restricted to the West-African subregion. Its superficial likeness to small dark-coloured specimens of Herpestes galera has already been refered to above1. A specimen in the Berlin Museum has the following note attached to it:-" Bores in the earth with its nose after insects." ' 2. CROSSARCHUS GAMBIANUS. * Herpestes gambianus, Ogilby, P.Z.S. 1835, p. 102. Mung os gambianus, Gray, P.Z.S. 1864, p. 575. Hab. Gambia. Size, form, and general coloration much as in C. fasciatus (q. v.) ; but the hairs on the back placed, so to speak, without reference to their rings, so that there is no trace of cross bands, but only a general grizzled appearance; and thus the posterior part of the body only differs from the head and shoulders in being more rufous. Neck and chest white; on the sides of the neck a distinct black streak separating the upper and lower colours, in this respect reminding one of Herpestes vitticollis, Benn. Skull broad and heavy as in C. fasciatus. Teeth small, as in C. obscurus and zebra. P.M4 only 6 m m . long. Dental percentage 80. Dimensions. Head and body. Tail. Hind foot. a. Gambia (type) 15*0 .. 2*5 Skull. Basi- Palate- Palate- Inc. to cranial Length. Breadth, length, breadth, cross line. axis. a. Type. ...c. 2*85 1*58 1*43 *84 -92 - This species is very interesting as showing what a comparatively unimportant character the presence of cross bands on the back is. Its coloration is extremely similar to that of C. fasciatus; ryet by a simple disarrangement of the hairs of the back, all the broad distinct cross bands vanish, and the back only presents a coarse grizzled rufous-grey colour. The type was collected by Mr. Rendall on the river Gambia, whence, at about the same time, a second specimen (immature) was sent to the late Lord Derby. Both these specimens are now in the P. 73. |