Information respecting Botanical Traveller's, 31 



possess the skill of cats in spying out and destroying rats and mice, 

 which from their long slender shape, they are able to follow better 

 to their retreat than the former. Two glands which are situated 

 near the anus contain a fluid which possesses a disagreeable odour. 

 The animal is called by the Arawaak Indians Hacca, by the Macusi 

 Maikang. 



The Orisons have been divided from the true Wolverines (Gulo), 

 and Mr. Bell has formed the genus Galicfis, Guiana possesses two 

 species, namely Galictis vittata and G. Allamandi of Bell. The Ga- 

 lictis vittata or Petit Frurat of Azara, inhabits the mountainous di- 

 stricts where the Essequibo has its sources. I saw the first in a tame 

 state at a Woyawai settlement in the Acarai mountains. It mea- 

 sured about 16 inches from the tip of the nose to the insertion of 

 the tail, the latter being 6 inches long. Its colour is of a light- 

 brown on the back, but near the head it is of a pale -gray colour, 

 mixed with black ; the muzzle, throat, chest, and body underneath 

 are of a shining black. 



The claws are strong and sharp, and the toes are half connected 

 by a membrane. In its tamed state it lived on boiled fish, meat, 

 fruits, yams, &c., but in the forests it subsists on birds, reptiles, and 

 small game. It feeds during day, and selects the hollow of a tree 

 for its abode during night. 



The second species, Galictis Allamandi, Bell*, is equally scarce 

 in Guiana ; but it is occasionally met with near the sea coast in 

 Demerara. It is somewhat larger than the Galictis vittata ; 

 its total length is about 2^ to 3 feet, and although it exhi- 

 bits the same general character, it differs widely in its colouring. 

 The fur on its back is at the base of a deep black, and the points are 

 white ; the muzzle, lower jaw, throat, and part of the belly are of a 

 shining black. A whitish line extends from between the eyes over 

 the ears to the sides of the neck. In a state of nature it is said to 

 be ferocious, and it is more difificult to tame it even when taken in a 

 young state than the Gulo barbarus. I have been told of one which 

 was kept on board of a colony schooner ; this is however the only 

 instance which came to my knowledge where it had been reconciled 

 to a domesticated state. 



The specimen which I possess in my collection appears to be the 

 young of Galictis Allamandi ; the hairs on its back are more of a 

 silvery gray than in the adult, but there are no specific diff^erences. 



Both species are alike in their habits ; and, aware of their inca- 



• Vide Mr. T. Bell on the genus Galictis. Trans, Zool. Soc. vol. ii. Ft. 3, 

 p. 201. 



