BINTURONG. 



463 



THE BINTURONG. 

 Genus Arctictis. 



The remarkable animal, represented in the accompanying illustration, and 

 known as the binturong, or bear-cat, although nearly allied to the palm-civets, 

 is yet so different from the members of that group in certain respects as to be 

 entitled to notice under a special heading. It is the sole representative of its 

 genus, and has a rather wide distribution in the Oriental region, ranging from 



THE BINTUROXG ( I liat. size). 



Assam through Arakan, Tenasserim, Siam, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. 

 The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is distinguished from all the other members 

 of the civet family by the long tufts of hair surmounting the ears, and also by the 

 prehensile nature of the long and somewhat bushy tail. As regards size, the length 

 of the head and body varies from 28 to 33 inches, and that of the tail from 26 to 

 27 inches. The tail is thus nearly as long as the head and body, and it is char- 

 acterised by its great thickness at the root, from which it tapers gradually ; it is 

 covered with bristly straggling hairs, which exceed in length those of the body. 

 The whole of the fur is, however, long and coarse, more especially on the back, 

 and is of a uniform black tint, more or less washed with grey on the head and 

 fore-limbs, and occasionally all over the body. 



