JAVA CAT. 413 



a yellowish-brown colour ; pupil perpendicular, 

 becoming dilated at night. It resembles the cat, 

 in being more of a night than day animal. 



It feeds on plantains and other fruit, and also 

 fowls' bones. When busily engaged in picking 

 the wing-bone of a fowl, it growls most sa- 

 vagely if disturbed in its repast ; which well 

 shows the nature of the beast. " He eats only 

 plantain," said the Javanese, from whom I pur- 

 chased it ; but could the animal have spoken 

 for himself, he would have probably hinted that 

 " portions of the animals composing the feathery 

 kingdom" would also be acceptable, by way of 

 variety. It is tame and playful, like a kitten, 

 throwing itself on the back, playing with a bit of 

 string, making, at the same time, a low, whining 

 noise. 



It utters a sharp, quick, squeaking noise, as 

 well as a low moaning, more particularly at 

 night, or when in want of food, or some water 

 to quench its thirst. The specimen is a male : 

 it was very playful, and climbed up my arm, by 

 aid of its claws, like a cat. When it drinks, it 

 laps like the dog or cat. 



May 17th. This morning, the animal had 

 broken through and escaped from its cage during 

 the night, and was about some part of the ship. 



