10IJ 



MOSTELID.R 



MUSTELID.E. 



This U ilia Teleda of the Javanese cut of Cheribon ; Seng-gung 

 of UM Solid* Javanese of the mountainous districts from Cheribon to 

 lUnUm; Teleggo of the inhabitant* of Sumatra: M<i>hiliJaraneniit 



ti Ui- , 



tlfdaut milierpt. Horsfield. 



Dr. Honfield states that this species presents a singular fact in its 

 geographical distribution. It is, he says, exclusively confined to those 

 mountains which have an elevation of more than 7000 feet above the 

 level of the ocean ; and on these it occurs with the same regularity 

 as many plants. " The long-extended surface of Java," continues Dr. 

 Horsfield, " abounding with conical points which exceed this elevation, 

 affords many places favourable for its resort. On ascending these 

 mountains the traveller scarcely fails to meet with our animal, which, 

 from its peculiarities, is Universally known to the inhabitant* of these 

 elevated tracts ; while to those of the plains it is as strange as an 

 animal from a foreign country. In my visits to the mountainous 

 districts I uniformly met with it, and, as far as the information of the 

 natives can be relied on, it is found on all the mountains. It is how- 

 ever more abundant on those which, after reaching a certain elevation, 

 consist of numerous connected horizontal ridges, than on those which 

 terminate in a defined conical peak. Of the former description are 

 the mountain Prahu and the Tengger Hills, which arc both distinctly 

 indicated in Sir Stamford Raffles' s map of Java : here I observed 

 it in great abundance. It was less common on the mountain Qede, 

 south of BaUvia ; on the mountain Ungarang, south of Semaraug ; 

 and on the mountain Ijen, at the farthest eastern extremity ; but I 

 traced its range through the whole island." 



Moat of these mountains and ridges are cultivated for the produc- 

 tion of wheat and European vegetables, and fruits, such as potatoes, 

 cabbages, peaches, and strawberries, in a deep vegetable mould, where 

 the Teledu ranges, and in its search for food injures the plantations 

 and destroys the roots. It turns up the earth with its nose like a hog, 

 and thus leaves vexatious traces of its nocturnal visits. 



The dwelling of the animal is formed at a slight depth beneath the 

 oil, under the roots of a large tree, where it constructs a globular 

 chamber several feet in diameter, smooth and regular ; and there is a 

 subterraneous approach to it about 6 feet long, the external entrance 

 to which the animal conceals with twigs and dry leaves. Here it 

 remains hidden during the day, and at night comes forth to seek the 

 insects and their larva;, and common earthworms, which are ita food. 

 They are said to live in pairs, and the female produces two or three 

 young at a birth, according to the natives. 



The fetid matter, which is viscid, and which Dr. Honfield was 

 assured the animal could not propel beyond a distance of two feet, is 

 very volatile, and consequently spreads to a great extent. The entire 

 neighbourhood of a village is sometimes infected by the odour of an 

 irriUtod Teledu ; and it is to powerful in the immediate vicinity of 

 the discharge a* to produce syncope in some persons. 



Dr. Horsfield describes the manners of this species as by no memo* 

 ferocious, and states that if taken young it might, like the Badger, be 

 easily tamed. He kept one some time in confinement: it became 

 gentle, and never emitted its offensive smell. Dr. Honfield carried it 

 with him from Mount Prahu to Blederan, a Tillage on the declivity of 

 that hill, where the temperature was more moderate. It was tied to 

 a small stake while the drawing was being made, and moved about 

 quietly, burrowing the ground with its snout and feet, as if searching 

 for food, without noticing the bystanden or making violent efforts to 

 disengage iUelf. It ate voraciously of earth-worms (Lumbrici) which 

 were brought to it, and held one extremity of a worm in its claws 

 while iU teeth were employed in tearing the other. After it had eaten 

 ten or twelve it became drowsy, made a small groove in the earth, in 

 which it placed its snout, and, having deliberately composed itself, 

 soon slept soundly. (' Zoological Researches in Java.') 



. Body elongate, arched. Toes separated and armed with 



long claws, the anterior proper for burrowing. Tail long and very 

 bushy, or entirely null Anal glands secreting a fetid odour. 



Dental Formula : Incison, - ; Canines, 1- ~ J ; Molars, ?=? = 31 

 6 11 65 



Teeth otMephitit (double the natural size). F. Cnvirr. 



F. Cuvier gives the above cut as the dentition of Mephitis and 

 Mydaus. The dental formula is that given by Lesson for Mepkitit. 



The fetor of the species of Mcphitit has obtained for them the 

 names of Betes Puantes, Enfans de Diable, and Stinking or Stifling 

 Weasels. M. Lesson observes that a great number of these American 

 Mouflbttes have been described, but the imperfect accounts of voyagers 

 render the arrangement unsatisfactory. He notices the following : 

 M. Americana, M. majturito, M. Ckilentit, M. Ckincha (the Chinche), 

 if. Quitauii, and M. inlerrupla. Mr. Horsfield gives the following 

 representation of the profile and front teeth of M. dimidiata of 

 Fischer, the Chinche of Buffou. 



Tronic of UepMlit ..' 



Front t*cth of jam*, a, upper; A, lower. 



if. Americana (var. Hudtontca), the Hudson's Bay Skunk. The 

 following accurate description is given from the pen of Sir John 



