MAMMALS 33 



to sustain the weight of the suspended body, but with 

 advancing years and increase of weight the Binturong 

 cannot remain long suspended by the tail alone. 

 Another adaptation for tree-climbing is exhibited by 

 the hind-feet ; these are capable of such freedom of 

 movement at the ankle-joint that their soles can be 

 turned inwards until they face each other. When a 

 Binturong descends a branch of a tree, it does so 

 head foremost, firmly gripping the branch with the 

 widely spread hind-legs, the soles of the feet closely 

 pressed to the bark : it can rest quite comfortably in 

 this attitude, and even raise the fore-part of the body 

 away from the branch. In walking along more slender 

 boughs great use is made of the tail, which is wound 

 round the support. Two young are brought forth in 

 some hollow tree, and the little creatures when weaned 

 make the most delightful pets, playing together like 

 kittens, and uttering all the time the most absurd 

 querulous squeaks. 



Of the two Bornean Palm-Civets or Munsang [in 

 Dayak, Musang in Malay C. H., H. N. R.] ; one, Para- 

 doxurus leucomystax, is rather uncommon ; the other, P. 

 hermaphroditus, is extremely abundant and is a great 

 nuisance to fruit-growers and keepers of poultry. Both 

 Macaques and Munsangs are very fond of ripe coffee- 

 berries and do much damage in plantations. The planter, 

 however, gets a bit of his own back, for the animals 

 cannot digest more than the soft pulp surrounding the 

 hard kernel or u berry " of the coffee-fruit ; consequently 

 the berries are passed entire and uninjured, and are care- 

 fully collected. As only the ripest and best fruit is 

 selected by the monkeys and Munsangs for their meal, 

 the dejecta are regarded as of first-rate quality and fetch 



4 



