,,,_, CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



refuse animal food, yet they exhibited a marked predilection for bread, fruits, and other substances ot 

 a vegetable nature. When irritated, they uttered a peculiar kind of grunting noise, and bristled up 

 the hair of their back ; if still further tormented, they would raise themselves on their hind legs, like 

 a bear, and appeared, like that animal, to possess a power in their arms and claws, not less formidable 

 than their teeth. 



Another species of badger* is found in Japan : we give a head of this animal. 



THE TELKDU. 



Another genus,t separated from the preceding animals, has the following characters : Five toes 

 on each foot, united up to the last phalanx by a very narrow membrane ; claws proper for digging, very 

 large on the fore feet, moderate on the hind feet ; tail rudimentary ; pupil round ; no external ears. 

 Dental formula: Incisors, |; canines, j^f ; false molars, f^f; flesh-cutting molars, J;J ; tuberculous 

 molars, \^\ = 34. The following is the type of this genus : 



THE TELEDU.J 



THIS creature agrees in size generally with the polecats of Europe and America. The eyes are placed 

 high in the head, resembling those of the hog. The fur is composed of long, delicate, closely-arranged 

 hairs, silky at the base, and forming a warm coat. The colour blackish-brown, more or less intense on 

 every part of the body, except the head ; the limbs short and stout ; the feet plantigrade. It has two 

 glands of an oblong form, and secretes a fluid having a strong odour. The length of the body and 

 head, from the extremity of the nose to the root of the tail, is I foot 2J inches ; of naked tail, J an inch ; 

 of tail, with hairy covering, 2 inches. 



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

 tree, where it constructs a globular chamber several feet in diameter, smooth and regular, and there is 

 :i MbtarrMMOUl approach to it about six feet long, the external entrance to which the animal conceals 

 with twi;;* ami dry leaves. Here it remains hidden during the day, and at night comes forth to seek 

 tin- insects and their larvae, and common earthworms, which are its food. The fetid matter it emits 

 is very volatile, and, e<>iise<|ii<>iitly, spreads to a great extent. The tcledu is well known in Java and 

 other Kar.tern I.slancls. 



akuma. Temminck. 



f Myilans. 



J Mydaus meliceps. 



