THE HEMIGALE. 249 



often scratches against objects, growling at the same time, as if practicing for future 

 defence. It eats fowl readily, but not other kinds of meat so well ; it ate some pine- 

 apple with much avidity. It will carry away a bone given to it to a dark corner, 

 growling and snapping at any one that may attempt to take it away. 



Sometimes, when left to itself, it utters such loud, squeaking cries as to be heard all 

 over the ship. One day, at dinner-time, when the animal was first on board, a noise 

 was heard, but from whence it proceeded, or what it was, we could not tell, until the 

 mystery was explained by the steward, who said that it was the foreign cat. 



Like all animals, whether of the genus Homo, or lower in the creation, the Java Cat 

 does not like to be disturbed at meals. This little, ill-humored quadruped is particu- 

 larly savage at that time, but, like the human race in all its numerous varieties, when 

 feeding time is over, and it has had a sufficiency of provender, it will remain quiet, 

 and be usually in a tolerably good humor ; but when it is hungry, there is nothing but 

 screeching, grumbling, and crying, until the appetite is satisfied. 



I gave the animal one morning a dead cockroach, but after turning and twisting it 

 about and licking it for some time, it would not eat it perhaps it was not hungry. 

 When the creature is excessively annoyed, it retires into some dark hole or corner, 

 making a spitting noise, and is very furious against any one that may attempt to dislodge 

 it from that place thus formed into a refuge for the ill-tempered. 



When first set at liberty, it was missing for one or two days, having gone on a tour, 

 by way of change of scene ; he soon, however, returned to his old quarters, ran about 

 the cabins, and, when sleeping during the day, would take the warmest and most com- 

 fortable situations which the cabins afforded ; it was as fully domesticated as a cat. 



The Musang runs about quite domesticated, and climbs well, occasionally aiding itself 

 by the tail having a prehensile power. He also runs about, particularly at night, and in 

 the morning is usually found quietly asleep upon the softest bundle of clothes he can 

 meet with in the cabin into which he has introduced himself. He dislikes much to be 

 handled, or petted, or crammed, unless he crams himself, which he very often does. 



At last I let the creature ramble about where it pleased in the after part of the ship ; 

 it reposed in the cabins or in other places it liked. It used to wander about and come 

 at meal-times for food, until the i4th of June, when it was missing, and search being 

 made about its usual haunts, the animal was discovered dead among some oakum in 

 one of the cabins. 



When at Pedir, on the south-east coast of Sumatra, I procured another young, but 

 larger, specimen than the preceding; it was purchased for half-a-rupee. Although 

 wild with strangers, with the native from whom the animal was purchased it was ex- 

 ceedingly domesticated. I have seen it follow him like a cat along the pathway for 

 some distance, when he placed it out of his arms upon the ground. The natives gave 

 it the same name here as at Java. 



When I placed this animal in my cabin, it remained very quiet, not making so much 

 noise as the last, but a few days afterwards it became so yery vicious, not suffering 

 any one to approach or touch it, without spitting, growling, and fighting so furiously, 

 that I at last was obliged to destroy it." 



The Musang, when in its native woods, constructs a nest not unlike that of the 

 squirrel's, composed of leaves, dry grass, slender twigs, and other analogous substances. 

 This habitation is usually fixed in the fork of a branch, and sometimes is placed in the 

 hollow of a tree. Making this " nest " its head-quarters, and sleeping there by day, it 

 issues forth at night in search of food, making sad havoc with the hen-roosts when it 

 can gain admission, and devouring every kind of ripe fruit which it can find. Pine- 

 apples seem to be favorite articles of diet with this epicurean creature. 



THE ANIMAL which is shown in the following engraving is remarkable for the 

 singularity of its coloring, and the mode in which the fur is diversified with lighter and 

 darker tints. 



The color of this animal's fur is a grayish-brown, on which are placed six or seven 

 large and bold stripes, arranged saddle-wise upon the back, being very broad above, nnd 



