102 CATALOGUE. 



Capt. R. Strachey found this species both in Ladakh and on the 

 Himalayas, at an elevation of 11,500 feet above the ocean, where it 

 lives chiefly in the villages of the inhabitants. 



Genus MUSTELA, Linn., Fischer, Gray, et al 

 VIVKRR.E, Species, Shaw et al. 

 PUTOBII, Spec., G. Cuv. et al. 



119. MU STELA (PUTORIUS) KATHIAH, Hodgson, 

 Journ. As. Soc. Beng. IV. p. 702. 



Mustek kathiah (v. auriventer), Hodgs., Classif. Cat. of 

 Nepal. Mamm., Journ. As. Soc. Beng. X. p. 909. 

 Calcutta Journ. Nat. Hist. IV. p. 287. Gray, Cat. 

 Hodgs. Coll. p. 13. Cat. Mamm. Br. Mus. p. 66. 

 Schinz, Synops. Mamm. p. 341. Ogilby, Zool. App. 

 to Royle's Bot. Illust. p. 65. 

 KATHIAH, Nyul, Nepal, Hodgson. 



HAB. Kachar of the northern region, Hodgson. Bootan, 

 Major Pemberton. 



A. Pemberton's Collection from Bootan. 



B. A skin. Presented by B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



B. H. Hodgson, Esq., who discovered this beautiful weasel during his 

 residence at the court of Katmandu, gives a full account of it in 

 the fourth volume of the J. A. S. B. p. 71. Its specific character is 

 " deep rich brown above, golden yellow below, chin whitish. Tail, 

 limbs, and ears concolorous with the body above. Tail cylindrico- 

 tapered, and half the length of the animal. Snout to rump, 10 inches ; 

 tail (less hair) 5 inches." 



" This beautiful little creature," Mr. H. continues, " is exceedingly 

 prized by the Nepalese for its service in ridding houses of rats. It is 

 easily tamed, and such is the dread of it common to all murine animals, 

 that not one will approach a house wherein it is domiciled. Rats and 

 mice seem to have an instinctive sense of its hostility to them, so much 

 so, that, as soon as it is introduced into a house, they are observed to 

 hurry away in all directions, being apprised, no doubt, of its presence 

 by the peculiar odour it emits. Its ferocity and courage are made 

 subservient to the amusement of the rich, who train it to attack large 

 fowls, geese, and even goats and sheep. The latter, equally with the 

 former, fall certain sacrifices to its agility and daringness. So soon 

 as it is loosed, it rushes up the fowl's tail, or goat's leg, and seizes the 

 great artery of the neck, nor ever quits its hold till the victim sinks 

 under exhaustion from loss of blood. 



