n6 Lloyd's natural history. 



the expression of their countenance, which was always open 

 and smiling, showed the greatest delight when noticed, throw- 

 ing themselves on their backs, and delighting in being tickled 

 and rubbed. On board ship there was a small Musi Dog, 

 who used to play round the cage with the animal, and it was 

 amusing to observe the playfulness and tenderness with which 

 the latter came in contact with his inferior-sized companion. 

 When fed wiih a fowl that had died, he seized the prey, and 

 after sucking the blood and tearing it a little, he amused him- 

 self for hours in throwing it about and jumping after it, in 

 the manner that a Cat plays with a Mouse before it is quite 

 dead. 



" He never seemed to look on man or children as prey, but as 

 companions, and the natives assert that, when wild, the Leopards 

 live principally on poultry, birds, and the smaller kinds of Deer. 

 They are not found in any numbers, and may be considered 

 rather a rare animal, even in the southern part of Sumatra. Both 

 specimens were procured from the interior of Bencoolen, on 

 the banks of the Bencoolen River. They are generally found 

 in the vicinity of villages, and are not dreaded by the natives, 

 except as far as they may destroy their poultry. The natives 

 assert that they sleep and often lay wait for their prey on trees ; 

 and from this circumstance they derive the name of Dalian, 

 which signifies the fork formed by the branch of a tree, across 

 which they are said to rest, and occasionally stretch them- 

 selves. 



"Both specimens constantly amused themselves in jumping 

 and clinging to the top of their cage, and throwing a somerset, 

 or twisting themselves round in the manner of a Squirrel when 

 confined, the tail being extended, and showing to great advan- 

 tage when so expanded." 



One of these animals, upon its arrival in this country, was 

 sent to Exeter 'Change, where the noise and novelty of the 



