72 The Cryptoprocta. 



of them, which unfortunately escaped, the other 

 going off, as he says, safe and sound. It appears 

 that the flesh of the Cryptoprocta is, in the opinion 

 of the natives, good to eat, for we are told that 

 they enjoy " beefsteaks " of this animal, which 

 they say are excellent. 



The specimen now in the Zoo is a young male, 

 about half grown. It is to be seen in the " small 

 Cats' House/' and is apparently in excellent 

 health, and has taken kindly to its new quarters. 

 It is a curious-looking little beast, about the size 

 of a large cat, with a long body, and short, stout 

 legs, and, perhaps, at the first glance the most 

 noticeable part of it, a tail which is very long, 

 cylindrical, and tapering. Its colour, with the 

 exception of the tips of its toes, which are white, is 

 a bright reddish-brown, the under parts being by 

 far the reddest. Its head is much like that of a 

 genet. Marvellously quick as it is in all its move- 

 ments, its general appearance makes it easy to 

 believe it the arch-destroyer which M. Pollen de- 

 scribes. It certainly does not show the untameable 

 ferocity described by Telfair; indeed, it seems rather 

 a kindly little animal, especially when compared 

 with many of its neighbours in the Cats' House, 

 among which may be reckoned some of the fiercest 

 creatures in the Gardens ; but we believe it is not 

 to be trusted. In conclusion, while hoping that it 

 may live long and thrive in its present quarters, 

 we have the satisfaction of knowing that, when it 

 dies, science is likely to profit by its decease. 



