108 THE TELEDU. 



external entrance to which it conceals with twigs and dry leaves. Dur- 

 ing the day it remains concealed, like a badger in its hole ; at night 

 it proceeds in search of its food, which consists of insects and other 

 larvge, and of worms of every kind. It is particularly fond of the 

 common lumbrici, or earth-worms, which abound in the fertile mould. 

 These animals, agreeably to the information of the natives, live in pairs, 

 and the female produces two or three young at a birth. 



" The motions of the Mydaus are slow, and it is easily taken by the 

 natives, who by no means fear it. During my abode on the Mountain 

 Prahu, I engaged them to procure me individuals for preparation ; and 

 as they received a desirable reward, they brought them to me daily in 

 greater numbers than I could employ. Whenever the natives surprise 

 them suddenly, they prepare them for food ; the flesh is then scarcely 

 impregnated with the offensive odor, and is described as very delicious. 

 The animals are generally in excellent condition, as their food abounds 

 in fertile mould. 



" On the Mountain Prahu, the natives, who were most active in sup- 

 plying me with specimens of the Mydaus, assured me that it could only 

 propel the fluid to the distance of about two feet. The fetid matter it- 

 self is of a viscid nature ; its effects depend on its great volatility, and 

 they spread through a great extent. The entire neighborhood of a vil- 

 lage is infected by the odor of an irritated Teledu, and in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity of the discharge it is so violent as in some persons to pro- 

 duce syncope. The various species of Mephitis in America differ from 

 the Mydaus in the capacity of projecting the fetid matter to a greater 

 distance. 



" The Mydaus is not ferocious in its manners, and, taken young, like 

 the badger, might be easily tamed. An individual which I kept some 

 time in confinement afforded me an opportunity of observing its dispo- 

 sition. It soon became gentle and reconciled to its situation, and did 

 not at any time emit the offensive fluid. I carried it with me from 

 Mountain Prahu to Bladeran, a village on the declivity of that moun- 

 tain, where the temperature was more moderate. While a drawing was 

 made, the animal was tied to a small stake. It moved about quietly, 

 burrowing the ground with its snout and feet, as if in search of food, 

 without taking notice of the bystanders, or making violent efforts to 

 disengage itself; on earth-worms (lumbrici) being brought, it ate vora- 

 ciously ; holding one extremity of a worm with its claws, its teeth were 

 employed in tearing the other. Having consumed about ten or twelve, 

 it became drowsy, and, making a small groove in the earth, in which it 

 placed its snout, it composed itself deliberately, and was soon sound 

 asleep." 



The color of the Teledu is a blackish brown, with the exception of 

 the fur upon the top of the head, a stripe along the back, and the tip 



