BADGERS. 



89 



and the scent-glands immediately removed, the flesh of the Malayan badger is 

 quite free from odour, and far from unpalatable. The secretion of the glands is, 

 however, foetid in the extreme, and has been compared to that of the skunks. As 

 in the latter, it can be ejected by the animal to a considerable distance. We have 

 but little information as to the habits of this animal in a wild state ; but it is 

 stated to be gentle and easily tamed when in captivity. 



THE MALAYAN BADGER (| nat. size). 



THE SAND-BADGER. 

 Genus Arctonyx. 



With the sand-badger or, as it is often termed, the hog-badger (Arctonyx 

 collaris), we come to our last representative of the badgers, and at the same time of 

 the present section of the Weasel family. The ordinary sand-badger is an Indian 

 species, ranging from the Eastern Himalaya through Assam and the neighbouring 

 regions to Tenasserim and Lower Burma. There is, however, also a smaller species 

 (A. taxoides), inhabiting Assam and Arakan, and possibly China ; while there is 

 probably a third in Eastern Tibet. 



The sand-badgers are easily distinguished from the other members of the group 

 by their proportionately longer tails ; that of the Indian species being from a quarter 

 to a third the length of the head and body. The long and naked snout is very like 

 that of the Malayan badger; the eyes are small, and the ears also small and 

 rounded. The body is rather flattened from side to side ; and only a portion of 

 the naked soles of the feet are applied to the ground in walking, so that these 

 animals may be described as digitigrade rather than plantigrade when in motion. 



