BINTURONG. 



463 



The Binturong. 



Genus Arctictis. 



The renuirkablo animal, represented in the accompanyincf illustration, and 

 known as the binturong, or bear-cat, although nearly allied to the palm-civets, 

 is yet so ditierent from the members of that group in certain respects as to be 

 entitled to notice under a special heading. It is tiie sole representative of its 

 genus, and has a rather wide distribution in the Oriental region, ranging from 



THE BINTUHONG ( I nat. SIZ'). 



Assam through Arakan.Tenasserim, Siam, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. 

 The binturong (Arctictis hinturong) is distinguished from all the other members 

 of the civet family by the long tufts of hair surmounting the ears, and also by the 

 prehensile nature of the long and somewhat bushy tail. As regards size, the length 

 of the head and body varies from 28 to .33 inches, and that of the tail from 26 to 

 27 inches. The tail is thus nearly as long as the head and body, and it is char- 

 acterised by its great thickness at the root, from which it tapers gradually ; it is 

 covered with bristly straggling hairs, which e.xceed in length those of tlie Ixidy. 

 The whole of the fur is, however, long and coarse, — more especially on the liack, — 

 and is of a uniform black tint, more or less washed with grey on the head and 

 fore-limbs, and occasionally all over the bod3^ 



