THE SAND-BEAR. 379 
specimens of the Mydaus, assured me that it could only propel the fluid to the distance of 
about two feet. The fetid matter itself is of a viscid nature: its effects depend on its 
ereat volatility, and they spread through a great extent. The entire neighbourhood of a 
village is infected by the odour of an irritated Teledu, and in the immediate vicinity of the 
discharge it is so violent as in some persons to produce syncope. The various species of 
Mephitis in America differ from the Mydaus in the capacity of projecting the fetid matter 
to a greater distance. : 
The Mydaus is not ferocious in its manners, and, taken young, like the badger, it 
might be easily tamed. An individual which I kept some time in confinement afforded 
me an opportunity of observing its disposition. It soon became gentle and reconciled to 
its situation, and did not at any time emit the offensive fluid. I carried it with me from 
Mountain Prahu to Bladeran, a 
village on the declivity of that 
mountain, where the temperature 
was more moderate. While a 
drawing was made, the animal was 
tied to a small stake. It moved 
about quietly, burrowing the ground 
with its snout and feet, as if in 
search of food, without taking 
notice of the bystanders, or making 
violent efforts to disengage itself ; 
on earth worms (lumbrici) being 
brought, it ate voraciously ; holding 
one extremity of a worm with its 
claws, its teeth were employed in 
tearing the other. Having con- 
sumed about ten or twelve, it 
became drowsy, and making a 
small groove in the earth, in which 
it placed its snout, it composed 
itself deliberately, and was soon TELEDU.—Mydaus inéticeps. 
sound asleep.” 
The colour of the Teledu is a blackish brown, with the exception of the fur upon the 
top of the head, a stripe along the back, and the tip of the short tail, which is a yellowish- 
white. The under surface of the body is of a lighter hue. The fur is long and of a silken 
texture at the base, and closely set together, so as to afford to the animal the warm 
covering which is needed in the elevated spots where it dwells. The hair is especially 
long on the sides of the neck, and curls slightly upwards and backwards, and on the top 
of the head there is a small transverse crest. The feet are large, and the claws of the fore 
limbs are nearly twice as long as those of the hinder paws. _ 
In the whole aspect of the Teledu there is a great resemblance to the badger, and, 
indeed, the animal looks very like a miniature badger, of rather eccentric colours. 
THE curious animal whose portrait is presented to the reader is known under 
several titles, among which the SAND-BEar is that by which it will be designated in these 
pages. It is also called the Indian Badger, and sometimes the Balisaur, a name which is 
corrupted from the Hindostanee word Balloo-soor, signifying Sand-Hog. There is a very 
great resemblance between this animal and the well-known English badger, from which 
creature, however, it may easily be distinguished by the greater comparative length of its 
legs, and the more hog-like snout. 
The general colour of the fur of the Sand-Bear is a yellowish-white, diversified by 
two black bands that run on each side of the head, and unite by the muzzle. The upper 
of these bands includes the ear and eye in its course, and curves downwards at the 
shoulder, where it is nearly met by the dark hue of the fore-limbs. The claws are 
