248 THE MUSANG. 
It feeds on plantains and other fruit, and also on fowls’ bones. When busily engaged in 
picking the wing-bone of a fowl, it growls most savagely if disturbed in its repast, which 
well shows the nature of the beast. ‘He eats only plantains, said the Javanese from 
whom I purchased it, but could the animal have spoken for itself, it would probably 
have hinted that portions of the animals composing the feathered kingdom would also 
be acceptable by way of variety. It is tame and playful lke a kitten, throwing itself 
on the back, playing with a bit of string, making at the same time a low whining 
noise. . 
It utters a sharp, quick, squeaking noise, as well as a low moaning, more particularly 
at night, or when in want of food, or of some water to quench its thirst. The specimen 
is a male; it is very playful, and climbed up my arm by aid of its claws, like a cat. 
When it drinks, it laps, like the dog or cat. 
May 17th—This morning, the animal had broken through and escaped. from its 
cage during the night, and was about some part of the ship. 
May 18th._—The whole of yesterday the creature was reported absent without leave ; 
but early this morning it was found in the cabin of the second officer, asleep upon a 
jacket. It appears sufficiently tame to be left at liberty, so I did not immure it in a cage 
again, but kept a long piece of string attached to one of the hind legs, so as to limit its 
extent of range, when I find it necessary. Whilst writing in my cabin, the animal was 
either lying down quietly asleep, or else came to see what I was about, thrusting its little 
sharp snout among my papers, and amusing itself by playing with my pens < and pencil. 
This animal is called Mussong in Java, and I found it was also known by the same 
name among the natives on the north-east coast of Sumatra. It licks and cleans its furry 
coat with the tongue, like a cat, especially after it has been much handled; and seems 
almost to possess the caution and secretiveness of that tribe. It growls savagely when 
disturbed or teased. It lapped some coffee one morning, but became sick soon after. 
It seems to be a fretful, impatient creature; and when it does not get its wants 
gratified, becomes terribly out of temper, or, rather, gets into a temper which is of a bad 
description. It then snaps ferociously at the fingers placed near it, but its young teeth 
can make but little impression : it is in downright earnest, however, for it bristles up, and 
advances its long whiskers, uttering a sort of peevish cries and growls. 
It was lying on the pillow of my bed one morning, when I took the creature off, and 
placed it on as soft a place, which had been made up in the cabin on purpose for it. But 
this would not do; it did not like the removal, and there was no termination to its 
peevish, fretful cries, until it was removed back to the old place ; where, being deposited, 
after licking itself about those parts of its furred coat that had been ruffled by handling, 
it stretched itself, and laid down quite contented. 
The squeaking discontented noise of the creature during the night, when it is tied up, 
is very annoying. I suppose the desire of making nocturnal rambles, as is the nature of 
the tribe, was the cause to which the cries were to be attributed. At last I used to give 
it fowl-bones during the night to amuse itself, and, being occupied in crunching them, I 
was no more annoyed by its nocturnal cries. 
When fighting, it uses the fore-paws, with extended claws, biting at the same time, 
retreating and advancing quickly, snapping, bristling up its large whiskers, and appearing 
a fierce object for one of the small animals of the creation. It does not spring at the 
object of attack like a cat, but jumps forward; it uses the claws of the fore-feet more than 
those of the hind, which, being longer and sharper, are more calculated for the purposes of 
defence, as well as in climbing. It well regards the object previous to attack, and then, 
with its little angular mouth expanded, it pounces upon aa firmly grasps its prey. 
The little beast has a very morose looking countenance, which some people skilled in 
physiognomy would eall a sour, forbidding countenance ; and, judging from what I have 
seen of this tamed and young specimen, it must be in the wild state a very savage 
animal, 
Unlike the cat, when drinking, it does not care about wetting its feet, for it often 
places the fore-paws in the water at the time. It often plays with its long tail, as well 
as with anything that may be in the way, similar to what we observe in kittens; and 
