294 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 



in the middle, and falls down in different directions; 

 its head is large, very broad at the forehead, and is 

 the only part on which the hair is short; its snout 

 is long, and ends in a thin, broad cartilage, over- 

 hanging the nostrils about an inch and a half; its 

 lips are thin and very long, and seem to be 

 furnished with muscles, by which the animal can 

 protrude them in a most singular manner, which it 

 never fails to do when its attention is directed to 

 any particular object, or when food is held out to 

 it; its eyes are small, black, and heavy, and its 

 aspect louring; its ears and tail are short, and hid 

 in the hair; its legs and thighs are remarkably 

 thick and strong; it treads on its heel like a Bear, 

 and its toes are not divided ; it has five long crooked 

 white claws on each foot, which it uses with great 

 dexterity, either separately or together, like fingers, 

 to break its food into smaller portions, or to convey 

 it to its mouth. Its colour is a deep, shining 

 black; excepting the snout and a spot above each 

 eye, which are of a yellowish white colour; there is 

 likewise a crescent of white underneath the throat: 

 it has no cutting teeth, but two very strong canine 

 teeth, and six grinders, in each jaw. 



It appears to be a gentle, good-natured animal; 

 but when irritated or disturbed, utters a short 

 abrupt roar, like a Bear, ending in a whining tone, 

 expressive of impatience. It feeds on bread, fruit, 

 and nuts; is fond of honey; and will eat marrow, or 

 the fat of meat, either raw or dressed; but refuses 

 roots of all kinds, and the lean or muscular parts of 

 flesh. 



This rare animal is said to have been brought 

 from the interior parts of Bengal; and that it 

 burrows in the ground. 



