248 THE MUSANG. 



It feeds on plantains and other fruit, and also on fowls' bones. When busily engaged 

 in picking the wing-bone of a fowl, it growls most savagely if disturbed in its repast, 

 which well shows the nature of the beast. * He eats only plantains,' said the Javanese 

 from whom I purchased it, but could the animal have spoken for itself, it would prob- 

 ably have hinted that portions of the animals composing the feathered kingdom would 

 also be acceptable by way of variety. It is tame and playful like a kitten, throwing 

 itself on the back, playing with a bit of string, making at the same time a low whining 

 noise. 



It utters a sharp, quick, squeaking noise, as well as a low moaning, more particularly 

 at night, or when in want of food, or of some water to quench its thirst. The specimen 

 is a male ; it is very playful, and climbed up my arm by aid of its claws, like a cat. 

 When it drinks, it laps, like the dog or cat. 



May iyth. rThis morning, the animal had broken through and escaped from its 

 cage during the night, and was about some part of the ship. 



May i8th. The whole of yesterday the creature was reported absent without leave ; 

 but early this morning it was found in the cabin of the second officer, asleep upon a 

 jacket. It appears sufficiently tame to be left at liberty, so I did not immure it in a cage 

 again, but kept a long piece of string attached to one of the hind legs, so as to limit its 

 extent of range, when I find it necessary. Whilst writing in my cabin, the animal was 

 either lying down quietly asleep, or else came to see what I was about, thrusting its little 

 sharp snout among my papers, and amusing itself by playing with my pens and pencil. 



This animal is called Mussong in Java, and I found it was also known by the same 

 name among the natives on the north-east coast of Sumatra. It licks and cleans its furry 

 coat with the tongue, like a cat, especially after it has been much handled ; and seems 

 almost to possess the caution and secretiveness of that tribe. It growls savagely when 

 disturbed or teased. It lapped some coffee one morning, but became sick soon 

 after. 



It seems to be a fretful, impatient creature ; and when it does not get its wants 

 gratified, becomes terribly out of temper, or, rather, gets into a temper which is of a bad 

 description. It then snaps ferociously at the fingers placed near it, but its young teeth 

 can make but little impression : it is in downright earnest, however, for it bristles up, 

 and advances its long whiskers, uttering a sort of peevish cries and growls. 



It was lying on the pillow of my bed one morning, when I took the creature off, and 

 placed it on as soft a place, which had been made up in the cabin on purpose for it. 

 But this would not do ; it did not like the removal, and there was no termination to its 

 peevish, fretful cries, until it was removed back to the old place ; where, being deposited, 

 after licking itself about those parts of its furred coat that had been ruffled by hand- 

 ling, it stretched itself, and laid down quite contented. 



The squeaking discontented noise of the creature during the night, when it is tied up, 

 is very annoying. I suppose the desire of making nocturnal rambles, as is the nature 

 of the tribe, was the cause to which the cries were to be attributed. At last I used to 

 give it fowl-bones during the night to amuse itself, and, being occupied in crunching 

 them, I was no more annoyed by its nocturnal cries. 



When fighting, it uses the fore-paws, with extended claws, biting at the same time, 

 retreating and advancing quickly, snapping, bristling up its large whiskers, and appearing 

 a fierce object for one of the small animals of the creation. It does not spring at the 

 object of attack like a cat, but jumps forward ; it uses the claws of the fore-feet more than 

 those of the hind, which, being longer and sharper, are more calculated for the purposes 

 of defence, as well as in climbing. It well regards the object previous to attack, and 

 then, with its little angular mouth expanded, it pounces upon and firmly grasps its prey. 



The little beast has a very morose looking countenance, which some people skilled 

 in physiognomy would call a sour, forbidding countenance ; and, judging from what I 

 have seen of this tamed and young specimen, it must be in the wild state a very savage 

 animal. 



Unlike the cat, when drinking, it does not care about wetting its feet, for it often 

 places the fore-paws in the water at the time. It often plays with its long tail, as well 

 as with anything that may be in the way, similar to what we observe in kittens : and 



