LUWACK, OR PARADONURE.—Paradowirus Typus. 
THE ANIMALS which compose the little group of Paradoxures are very closely allied to 
the Pagumas and the Ichneumons, and appear to be confined to the Asiatic continent and 
its islands. The little group of animals to which the Luwack belongs was arranged by 
Cuvier under the generic title of Paradoxurus, literally, Puzzle-tail, because they ‘have a 
curious habit of twisting their tails into a tight coil, and in Men cat-like claws, and 
their civet-like teeth, present a strange mixture of characteristics. 
The Luwack, or common Paradoxure, is found plentifully in India, from whence many 
specimens have been brought to this country. As it has something of the viverrine look 
about it, Buffon and other naturalists placed it with the Genetts. It is a curious little 
creature, rather quick in its movements, and very inquisitive in its aspect, holding its 
head aside with an air of curiosity that is quite amusing. The eyes of this creature are 
very small and nearly black. 
As the Luwack is tolerably widely spread, it is known by various names, according to 
the locality in which it lives. Its Malabar appellation is Pounougar-Pouné, a term which 
signifies “Civet Cat.” The general tint of the fur is a yellowish black, but it assumes 
various hues, according to the light in which it is viewed. On each side of the spine run 
three rows of elongated spots, and upon the thighs and shoulders other spots are 
scattered. But if the animal is viewed in certain lights, the spots on the body seem to 
be merged into lines, while those on the breast disap ypear altogether. This change of 
appearance is caused by the mode in which the hairs are coloured, each hair being tipped 
with a darker hue, and some hairs being totally black. These latter hairs are very silken 
in texture, and much longer than the yellowish hairs of which the fur is mostly 
composed. 
The Luwack, as are all the Paradoxmes, is entirely plantigrade. Its feet are furnished 
with sharp claws, which are sufliciently retractile to be kept from the ground when the 
anunal walks, and are preserved so sharp, that they can be used for tree- clinbing with 
the greatest ease. Its tail is very remarkable on account of the tight spiral into “which 
it is frequently rolled, and seems to be unlike the tail of any other animals, Although it 
can be so firmly curled, it is not prehensile, as might be supposed from its aspect when 
half unrolled. 
