294 YERTEBRATA. 



those of a bear, with the snout, eyes, and tail of a hog. Its ears are short, completely covered 

 with hair, and Burrounded by a Blight border of white. 



The individuals, a male and female, observed In the menagerie of the Governor-general at Bar- 

 rackpoor by the French naturalist Dnvancel, who furnished Cuvier with the materials for his 

 description, were very Bhy and wild. They passed the greater part of the day buried beneath 

 the straw of their den, in deep sleep. All their movements were remarkably slow. Though 

 they did not altogether refuse animal food, ye1 they exhibited a marked predilection for bread, 

 fruits, ami other Bubstances of a vegetable nature. When irritated, they uttered a peculiar 

 kind of grunting noise, and bristled np the hair of their back; if still further tormented, they 

 would raise themselves upon their hind-legs like a hear, and appeared, like that animal, to pos- 

 sess greal power in their arms and claws. 



This is confirmed by Mr. Johnson in his "Sketches of Indian Field-Sports." "Badgers in 



India," Bays he, "are marked exactly like those in England, but they are larger and taller, and 



edingly tierce, and will attack a number of dogs. I have seen dogs that would attack a 



hyena or wolf, afraid to encounter them. They are scarce, but occasionally to be met with among 



the hills. In their nature they resemble the bear." 



The Anakimv Badger, M. Anakuma, described by Temminck and Schlegel, is found in Japan. 

 [ts color- are disposed in nearly the same manner as those of the European badgers, but the 

 band- of the head, instead of being white, are of a light red. The reddish tint prevails also over 

 the lower parts of the body, instead of the grayish brown. It inhabits mountainous countri*- 

 coven d with forest, lives in burrows, is nocturnal in its habits, and feeds on frogs, lizards, earth- 

 worms, and \ egetables. 



Genus UELICTIS : H lictis. — This embraces three species of small animals nearly plantigrade, 

 resembling the badger, but of the size of the martens. The Misked Helictis, H. moschntu of 

 Gray,is found in Pegu and China; the Nepaul Helictis, H Xijju/ti/s/s, is found in Nepaul; and 

 the Omental Helictis, H Orientalis, is found in Sumatra. The two last were formerly ranked 

 with the gluttons : their habits are little known. 



G( a us M V 1 ' A 1 ' S : Mydaus. — Of this there is a single species, the Javanese Skunk, the Teledi 

 or Sekg-qung of the Javanese; the Teleggo of the inhabitants of Sumatra; Mephitis Java- 

 its of Raffles; M. telagon of Gervais, and M. meliceps of Cuvier. It is twelve inches long; 

 its tail two inches, with a pencil of hairs at the tip ; form attenuated, like that of the polecat: 

 feet plantigrade; claws long and strong, proper for digging ; color blackish brown, marked with 

 white or fawn on the head and back. It has two glands half an inch long, beneath the rectum, 

 which secrete a disgusting odor like that of the skunks. 



It is found in Sumatra and Java, especially in the mountains and ridges of the latter wdiich arc 

 cultivated for the production of wheat and European vegetables and fruits, such as potatoes, cab- 

 bages, peaches, and strawberries, in a deep vegetable mould. Here the teledu ranges, and in its 

 h for food injures the plantations and destroys the roots. It turns up the earth with its nose 

 like a hog, and thus leaves vexatious traces of its nocturnal visits. 



The dwelling of the animal is formed at a slight depth beneath the soil, under the roots of a 

 large tie. . v lerc it constructs a globular chamber several feet in diameter, smooth and regular; 

 there is a subterraneous approach to it about six feet long, the external entrance to which the ani- 

 mal conceals with twigs and dry leaves. Here it remains hidden during the day, and at night 

 comes forth to Beek the insects and their larva', and common earth-worms, which are it- feed. 

 It i- -aid to live iii pair-, and the female produces two or three young at a birth, according t< 

 the accounts of the natives. 



The fetid matter, which they cannot propel beyond a distance of two feet, is very volatile, and 

 spreads its effluvia to a greal extent. The entire neighborhood of a village is sometimes infected by 

 the odor of an irritated teledu ; and it is so powerful in the immediate vicinity of the discharge, 

 to produce Byncope in some persons. 



I»r. Horsfield describes the manners of this species as by no means ferocious, and state- that 

 if taken young it might, like the badger, be easilv tamed. He kept one some time in confine- 

 ti nut : it became gentle, and never emitted its offensive smell. He carried "it with him from 



