170 



THE MALAY PROVINCE 



coarse hair clothing the head, body, limbs, and tail is black with a more or less 

 marked greyish grizzle. To the root of the tail the length is from 28 to 33 inches, 

 and that of the tail 2G or 27. The tail, which is very thick at the root, is covered 

 with bristly hairs longer than those on the body. The binturong ranges from Simla 

 through the Malay Peninsula to Java ; it feeds on small mammals, birds, fishes, 

 worms, insects, and fruits, leading a nocturnal life among the trees, and climbing in 

 a somewhat slow manner, partially supported by its tail. The binturong is said to 

 have a loud howling voice, and to be fierce by nature, although easily tamed when 

 caught young. 



web-Footed Another very remarKable Malay representative of the group is 



Civet. th e web-footed civet (Cynogale bennetti), which is a distinctly aquatic 



animal, although a good climber. It feeds partly on land animals and fruits, but 





Sis'"*'- ., 



BINTURONG. 



chiefly on crabs and fishes. In external appear- 

 ance it presents some resemblance to an otter. 

 The anterior cheek-teeth are unusually long, 

 probably for seizing and rending fish. Like the otter, it has a broad depressed muzzle, 

 thickly fringed with whiskers, which are unusually long on the cheeks and over 

 the eyes. The toes are webbed at the base. The short tail measures only 9£ inches, 

 the length of the head and body being about 32 inches. In colour this civet is 

 brownish, the back and outside of the legs being more grizzly than the rest. It is 

 a native of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. 



Crab-Eating The mongooses are represented by the crab-eating species (Her- 



Mongoose. pestes urva), which ranges from Nepal to southern China, One of its 

 distinctive features is the white behind the eye ; the general colour on the legs and 

 under-parts is reddish brown, and on the back grey ; the tail has no black tip. This 

 mongoose, which is partly aquatic in its habits, and feeds chiefly on crabs and frogs, 

 is stoutly built and about 20 inches in length to the root of the tail, the tail itself 

 measuring about a foot. 



