186 



THE DELUNDUNG. 



As far as is known of the disposition of this animal, it appears to be savage and irritable, 

 bearing captivity very impatiently, and never losing its wild ferocious nature. It is a very 



BASSE. FJtwa indlca. 



destructive creature among the animals on which it feeds, and on account of its long sharp 

 teeth can inflict a severe bite when it is angry. In captivity it generally feeds on eggs, various 



birds, and meat and fish, and a little rice. The 

 natives say that salt is a poison to it. 



THE pretty animal which is represented 

 in the accompanying engraving is remarkably 

 rich in coloring, as well as graceful in form. 

 The DELUNDUNG is a native of Java and 

 Malacca, and is destitute of the scent-pouches 

 which are so curious a characteristic of the 

 preceding Viverrine animals. It is not at all 

 a common animal, and its habits are not very 

 clearly known. 



The general color of the fur is a moderately 

 deep gray, and upon the back are drawn four 

 very large, saddle-shaped stripes of an exceed- 

 ingly dark and rich brown, extremely broad 

 on the spine, and becoming very narrow on 

 the ribs. Along the sides run two rows or 

 chains of similarly colored markings, the up- 

 per band being occasionally merged in the 

 broad stripes that cross the back. The lower 

 band extends from the cheeks to the flanks. 

 The legs are finely spotted, and the tail is 

 covered with alternate rings of gray and dark 

 brown, the rings becoming more distinct 

 towards the point of the tail. 



The creature has been termed Prionodon, 

 or "Saw-tooth," on account of the curkmsly 

 shaped teeth, which present a jagged, or saw-like appearance. Its limbs are very slender 

 and delicately formed. Although a scarce animal in every part of Java, it is especially so 

 in any part of the island except the eastern end, where it is found among the thick forests 

 with which that locality is densely clothed. 



DELUNDUNG. Prionodon gracilis. 



