MYDAUS MELICEPS. 



as far as relates to the anal- glands ; but the follicule of the Badger is described as 

 being similarly situated, and as secreting a fluid very similar in consistence, though 

 of a less offensive nature. A striking affinity between Mydaus and Meles further 

 exists in the slowness of their motions, the clumsy make of their bodies, their noc- 

 turnal habits, the mode of constructing their dwellings, their food, and their manners 

 generally : these, as far as relates to INIydaus, will be detailed in the sequel. Of the 

 other animals of this family, which is distinguished by the character of plantigradce, 

 it is sufficient to mention the name, to shew that they cannot claim so much affinity 

 to Mydaus as the genera with which it has been compared : — they are Ursus, Procyon, 

 Nasua, Cercoleptes, and Gulo. Mydaus should therefore be arranged between Meles 

 on one side, and Mephitis on the other. This genus, it is true, is placed in the 

 family of digitigradee both by Baron Cuvier and by Mr. Desmarest. By the latter it 

 is even removed beyond Mustela, which from its affinity, in many points, to Gulo, 

 forms the connecting link between the families of jtlantigradce and digitigradce. 

 But the character of Mephitis, as far as regards this point, appears both from the 

 description of the Mephitis Mapurito by Mutis (Act. Holmiens, 1770, p. GS), who 

 uses the following expression : — " talis ursorum instar incidentes ;" and from the 

 remark of Mr. T'. Cuvier, who in comparing the Chinche with the Teledu, asserts 

 that, as far as regards their external appearance, they have nothing in common but 

 their " allure plantigrade." 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of the body and head, from the extremity of the nose to 



the root of the tail 1 Foot, 2f inches. 



of the naked tail ^ do. 



of the tail with its hairy covering 2 do. 



of the head 4 do. 



of the anterior extremities S\ do. 



of the posterior extremities 4^ do. 



The Mydavis meliceps presents a singular fact in its geographical distribution. 

 It is confined exclusively to those mountains which have an elevation of more than 

 7000 feet above the level of the ocean ; on these it occurs with the same regularity as 

 many plants. The long-extended surface of Java, abounding with conical points 

 which exceed this elevation, affords many places favourable for its resort. On 

 ascending these mountains, the traveller scarcely fails to meet with our animal, 

 which, from its peculiarities, is universally known to the inhabitants of these elevated 

 tracts; while to those of the plains, it is as strange as an animal from a foreign 

 country. A traveller would inquire in vain for the Teledu at Batavia, Semarang, 

 or Surabaya. In my visits to the mountainous districts I uniformly met with it, and 

 as far as the information of the natives can be relied on, it is found on all the moun- 



