115 



tint to the super-vertebral region, which, however, is soon lost in 

 the white of either side. White also prevails along the dorsal 

 aspect of" the tail to within an inch of its termination, where it is 

 lost in the black of the point. The margin of the white colour forms 

 a concave line across the face, whence, descending along the side of 

 the neck, ribs, flanks, and rump', it meets the line of the opposite 

 side on the tail. The remaining parts, including the extremities, 

 are, as before stated, more or less black. 



" As the animal approaches the Ursine tribe in its form and planti- 

 grade movement and the Weasels in its dentition, so with respect to 

 its integuments it bears some analogy to the Porcine Pachydermata. 

 The skin is tough, thick, and hard ; the hairs are long, loose, 

 coarse, and scanty, without vestige of the finer wool which imme- 

 diately envelopes the skin of so many other animals. They are, 

 however, much thicker on the upper than on the lower surface 

 both of the body and limbs. On the posterior parts of the thighs 

 they are so long as almost to form tufts ; on the front of the fore 

 legs they are also very long, and their course is here directly across 

 the limb. On the sides of the neck the lay of the black hairs is 

 precisely vertical, thus meeting the white ones, whose course is 

 longitudinal, exactly at righc angles. Round the opening of the 

 ears there is a peculiar circular ring of hairs, about half an inch in 

 breadth, which bears a rude similitude to the feathered circles sur- 

 rounding the eyes of the nocturnal birds of prey. The face and jaws 

 are nearly naked, scarcely any traces of hair being observable in 

 these parts .- the whole ventral aspect is also remarkably destitute 

 of this covering. A few long black hairs are here and there met 

 with on the chest, belly, and under surface of the extremities, but 

 not in sufficient quantity to conceal the skin. There is also a line 

 along the inferior surface of the tail entirely denuded of hair. The 

 integuments round the anus are naked, and dilated into a kind of 

 circular bag or pouch, though not to a considerable extent. The 

 specimen from which this description is taken is a male. 



" It is impossible to examine this animal, even in the most cur- 

 sory manner, without coming to the conclusion that it is wonder- 

 fully adapted for making its way beneath the surface of the earth. 

 The powerful fore leg, armed with enormous claws; the cuneiform 

 head ; the face deprived of hair ; the minute and sunken eye ; the 

 entire absence of external ear ; the strong and muscular neck and 

 shoulder ; the comparative diminution of the posterior extremities, 

 whereby the bulk of the hinder parts is lessened ; the naked abdo- 

 men; — all unite to characterize it preeminently as a digger. And 

 in fact, among the population of its native regions, it is said that it 

 seeks its choicest food in the cemeteries, and such is its dexterity in 

 tearing open the graves of the dead, that no tomb is sacred from 

 its attacks. The latter part of this account is probably in some 

 degree overstated ; but it has, at all events, in those parts obtained 

 the appellation of tlie Gravedigge?: The generic term of Storr, • 

 Mcllivora, although it may suit the African species, is consequently 

 peculiarly inappropriate in reference to this. 



"It is a native of the upper provinces of Bengal, where, however. 



