MYDAUS MELICEPS. 



annulo musculari instructiis est, cvim quo animal ad libitum liquidum fetidissi- 

 mum in intestinum rectum efFundit, et postea, ventris crepitu, ejaculat. 

 Pedes plantigradi, pentadactyli, fissi. Plant(S nudse. Ungues falculse longissima^, 

 depresses, rectiusculae, subulatte, suba2quales ; digiti medii anterius dispositus, 

 reliquorum gradatim posteriores, poUicis postremus. 



Affinitas. — Genus inter Melem et Mephitim locum tenet; rostro, unguibusque 

 Mele, glandulis analibus dentiumque numero Mephiti simile : characteribus 

 tamen, ab ambobus diversis gaudet. 



Mydaus fuliginosus obsolete cristatus, plaga verticali rhomboidea postice attenuata 



striga dorsali caudasque apice flavescente-albidis. 

 Teledu, in the language of Java, East of Cheribon. 

 SSng-gung, in the language of the Sunda Javanese, spoken in the mountainous 



districts from Cheribon to Bantam. 

 Teleggo, of the inhabitants of Sumatra — 3Iarsden's Hist, of Sumatra, p. 117. 

 Mephitis javanensis, Encycl. Method. Mammalogie, p. 187, par M. A. G. JDesmarest, 



1820. 

 Mephitis javanensis. Sir T. S. Raffles' s Cat. of a Zool. Coll. made in Sumatra. Tr. 



Linn. Soc. XIII. p. 351, 1821. 

 Le Telagon, Fred. Cuv. Mamm. litliogr. 27^ livrais. 



The Teledu has a peculiar external character and physiognomy. Although it 

 generally agrees in size with the Pole Cats of Europe and America, the circumstances 

 which influence its appearance are entirely different. The heavy form of the body, as 

 weU as the head gradually narrowed to an obtuse point, call to mind the figure of a hog. 

 The shortness and strength of the neck, and the manner of walking, by placing the 

 entire sole of the foot on the grovind, contribute further to give to the animal a sluggish 

 appearance. The eyes are placed high in the head, and in their size and disposition 

 have considerable resemblance to those of a hog : the eyelids are rigid, and well 

 provided with eyebrows consisting of minute bristles : the irides are of a dark colour, 

 and the pupil is circular. The ears are nearly concealed by the hairy covering of the 

 body; but these organs are provided externally with an oblong concha, which surroimds 

 the posterior part, and passing the lower extremity of the meatus auditorius, forms 

 a small curve inward. No whiskers are perceptible, but a few long straggling hairs 

 arise from the upper lip. The covering of the Teledu is adapted to the elevated and 

 cold regions which it inhabits. The fur is composed of long delicate hairs, silky at 

 the base, which are closely arranged, and afford a very warm coat to the body. On 



