new species of Paradoxurc. 303 



has always taken place in a horizontal plane, and assumed something 

 the shape of a roman S ; nor have I ever observed the curvature to assume 

 the form of a vertical spiral, w^hich the expressions of Desmarest w^ould 

 lead us to suppose it does. 



The individual from which the above description was taken, was a very 

 fierce animal, and would not give me an opportunity of taking its dimen- 

 sions : but, from the size of the cage in which it was confined, which 

 was 31 inches in length, I should suppose it to be very nearly 16 inches 

 from the nose to the origin of the tail ; and the tail itself, perhaps, an 

 inch or an inch and a half shorter. It stood low upon its legs; and, in its 

 movements, displayed all the ease and agility of the cat. It had also the 

 nocturnal eye of that animal ; generally slept during the day, with the 

 tail folded round the body ; but became exceedingly restless and vigilant 

 on the approach of night, and then kept almost constantly on a small 

 perch with which its cage was provided. When teazed or otherwise 

 irritated, it emitted a low cry like the half suppressed growl of an angry 

 cat. Immediately beneath the tail, I was informed that there is a slight 

 folding of the skin, vrhich exudes, though in small quantities, a matter of 

 a musky smell; bvit the fierceness of the animal would not permit me to 

 ascertain the fact from personal observation. Of its native country, I 

 could obtain no account ; but it is, most probably, some part of the East 

 Indies, as it was thought to have been brought to England in the Thames. 



The accompanying engraving, [tab. supp. xxxv,] for which the public 

 are indebted to the pencil of that able and zealous Naturalist, H. "Woods, 

 Esq., is a striking likeness of the individual from which this description 

 was taken. For the ready courtesy with which that gentleman consented 

 to its publication, in illustration of the present memoir, the author begs 

 leave to return his most grateful acknowledgments. 



The subjoined phrases will express the specific differences of the 

 species of Paradoxures with which I am acquainted. Never having seen 

 a specimen of the Paradoxurus aureus of M. F. Cuvier, I do not venture 

 to characterize it; neither should I feel justified in adding to the genus the 

 Viverra Musangua, Raffles, without a more accurate examination than I 

 have yet been able to give to specimens of that interesting animal. 



Paradoxurus typus, F. Cuv. 

 Par. flavescenti-brunneus ; vittis dorsalibus, sub-interruptis, sub-obso- 



X 2 



