92 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



THE BINTURONG 



{Arctictis binturong) 



THIS curious animal is sometimes called the Bear-Cat, a peculiarly unhappy 

 name for a creature which is neither Cat nor Bear, though with its short, free, 

 lynx-like tufted ears, and long, coarse, grizzly black coat, it does suggest a com- 

 bination of Bear and Cat It is, however, practically a large Paradoxure ; in 

 size it may equal a large Terrier, and it is remarkable for having a very long tail 

 which is truly prehensile, being the only non-marsupial animal in the Old World 

 endowed with this means of suspending itself. It is an omnivorous, nocturnal, 

 forest animal, found from Assam to Java, and is not unfamiliar in captivity, 

 though it cannot be called common. 



THE WATER-CIVET 



(Cynogale bennettii) 



ALTHOUGH one or two of the Mongooses the group next to be noticed are 

 more or less aquatic, the present animal is the only member of the Civet family 

 specially adapted for an aquatic life. This otter-like Civet is about as big as a 

 large Cat, short-tailed, short-eared, and broad-muzzled, with abundant whiskers. 

 It is web-footed and a good swimmer, but also able to climb. In colour this 

 animal is a grizzly brown ; it is very omnivorous, devouring anything, from 

 fish to fruit. The Water-Civet ranges from Borneo to Sumatra ; it is a rare 

 animal, and I have only once heard of it being kept in a Zoological Garden. In 

 this case the specimen was exhibited in that of Calcutta, where I had a chance 

 of studying it myself. 



THE FOSSA 



(Cryptoproda ferox) 



THE Fossa of Madagascar is a very curious creature, forming a connecting link 

 between the Civets and Cats, though ranged by most naturalists with the former. 

 It is nearly as big as a small Leopard, long in body and tail, with retractile 

 claws and the brown fur of a Puma, and the teeth of a true Cat in a Civet's 

 long muzzle. It is a great climber, very savage and extremely active, and 

 credited with being dangerous to men, while it at any rate attacks Goats. It 

 has once been exhibited at the Zoological Gardens in London, but is a rare 

 animal, and little known even in its own country. 



