132 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



Ferret, and more delicately shaped than the other species. Its coloura- 

 tion also differs in detail, the white markings being more numerous, 

 but, like Skunks generally, it shows much local variation. 



THE ZORILLAS 



THERE are no true Skunks in the Old World, but some very colourable 

 imitations of them exist, which after all are very nearly allied, being 

 themselves members of the Weasel family. The African Zorillas 

 (Ictonyx) connect the Skunks with the typical Weasels, in size and 

 form resembling Polecats, while they have the black-and-white colour 

 of Skunks. As in the small Skunk, the most Polecat-like of the 

 Skunk groups, the stripes in the Zorillas are more numerous than in 

 the large Skunks. Zorillas not only look like Skunks, but are said 

 to smell nearly as bad; notwithstanding this, however, they are often 

 tamed, and many specimens have been exhibited at the London Zoo- 

 logical Gardens. 



THE TELEDU 



(Mydaus meliceps) 



IF on the one hand the Skunks approach the Weasels, they are on the 

 other even nearer the Badgers, the Teledu, which ranks as a Badger, 

 being in several respects very like a Skunk. This animal, found in 

 the mountains of Java and Sumatra, is a small beast, hardly as big 

 as a Cat, with a badger-like general shape, long pig-like nose, and very 

 short stump-tail well tufted with hair. In colour it is dark brown, 

 with white along the back, and, in addition to this Skunk-colouration, 

 it is able to produce an odour which fairly rivals that of the real Skunks. 

 For the rest, it is a burrowing animal, and feeds much on earthworms. 

 Though said to be easily tamed, it seems rare in captivity it would 

 certainly not be an inviting pet, as it is not even good-looking and 

 I have never heard of its being brought to Europe alive. 



