The Cryptoprocta. 71 



fossas would, if occasion offered, take, not only 

 fowls, but also young pigs and other domestic 

 animals. They are also said to climb trees in 

 pursuit of lemurs, of the flesh of which animals 

 they are very fond. When the natives capture 

 an unfortunate fossa they torture it to death, 

 having previously burnt off its moustaches for the 

 purpose of disgracing it, as they say. M. Pollen 

 gives an account of an expedition which he made 

 during his stay in Madagascar for the purpose 

 of shooting a Cryptoprocta which had been doing 

 great mischief to the villagers' fowls. The hunt, 

 if so it can be called, took place by moonlight. 

 Accompanied by several natives, one of whom 

 carried a cock, he took up his position in a small 

 thicket at some distance from the village. The 

 cock was tlien made fast to a peg, driven into 

 the ground, a short distance from their hiding 

 place, by a cord, one end of which was held by 

 one of the hunters, who, by constantly jerking 

 it, kept the bird in a state of noisy excitement, 

 with the result that, after waiting about half 

 an hour, a noise like the howling of dogs was 

 heard at some distance. This was repeated from 

 time to time, at last two fossas appeared under the 

 shade of some large trees, and " like shadows 

 gliding through the grass ;" though the cock was 

 not allowed to be quiet, the cunning animals, no 

 doubt suspecting mischief, kept out of range. 

 M. Pollen, however, eventually obtained a shot, 

 but was only successful in breaking the leg of one 



