; 
THE AFRICAN LINSANGS, 225 
wards to Yunan. It is stated to be not uncommon in the inte- 
rior of Sikhim, where it probably lives at moderate elevations. 
Habits.—This is the only one of the Linsangs of which we 
have any information in regard to habits, and even in this case 
_ our knowledge is of the scantiest. Hodgson writes that this 
animal ‘‘is equally at home on trees and on the ground. It 
dwells and breeds in the hollows of decayed trees. It is not 
gregarious at all, and preys chiefly on small birds, which it is 
wont to pounce upon from the cover of the grass. The times 
of breeding are said to be February and August, and the litter 
to consist of two young, there being two litters each year.” A 
tame female in the possession of the same gentleman is stated 
to have been “ wonderfully docile and tractable, very sensitive 
to cold, and very fond of being petted.” It never uttered any 
sound, and was fed on raw meat. In the wild state Hodgson 
suggests that the Linsangs may also eat insects. 
VI. THE AFRICAN LINSANGS. GENUS POIANA, 
Potana, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 520. 
The members of this genus, which is represented only by a 
single African species, and perhaps should not be separated 
from the last, may be defined as Linsangs with a Genet-like 
metatarsus ; there being a bald line on the under surface of that 
segment of the hind-limb, as in the Genets. In all other respects 
it agrees with Zzmsanga, and it may be noted that in Z. pardicolor 
there is a narrow upward prolongation of the main pad of the 
sole of the hind-foot foreshadowing the naked strip of the present 
genus. 
I. WEST AFRICAN LINSANG. POIANA POENSIS. 
Genetta poensis, Waterhouse, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1838, p. 59. 
Genetta richardsont, Thompson, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. x. 
p. 204 (1842). 
Linsang richardsoni, Gerrard, Cat. Bones Mamm. Brit. Mus, 
Pp. 72 (1862), 
7 Q 
