MYDAUS MELICEPS. 



tains. It is, however, more abundant on those which, after reaching a certain 

 elevation, consist of numerous connected horizontal ridges, than on those which 

 terminate in a defined conical peak. Of the former description are the Mountam 

 Prahu and the Tengger Hills, which are both distinctly indicated in Su* Stamford 

 Raffles's Map of Java ; here I observed it in great abundance. It was less common 

 on the Mountain Gede, South of Batavia; on the Mountain Ungarang, South of 

 Semarang; and on the Mountain Ijen, at the farthest eastern extremity; but I traced 

 its range through the whole Island. 



Most of these mountains and ridges furnish tracts of considerable extent, fitted 

 for the cultivation of wheat and other European grains. Certain extra-tropical 

 fruits are likewise raised with success : peaches and strawberries grow in considerable 

 abundance, and the common culinary vegetables of Europe are cultivated to 

 great extent. To most Europeans and Chinese, a residence in these elevated 

 regions is extremely desirable; and even the natives, who in general dislike its cold 

 atmosphere, are attracted by the fertility of the soil, and find it an advantage to 

 establish villages, and to clear grounds for culture. Potatoes, cabbages, and many 

 other culinary vegetables are extensively raised, as the entire supply of the plains 

 in these articles depends on these elevated districts. Extensive plantations of wheat 

 and of other European grains, as well as of tobacco, are here found, where rice, the 

 universal product of the plains, refuses to grow. These grounds and plantations are 

 laid out in the deep vegetable mould, where the Teledu holds its range as the most 

 ancient inhabitant of the soil. In its rambles in search of food, this animal fre- 

 quently enters the plantations, and destroys the roots of young plants ; in this manner 

 it causes extensive injury, and on the Tengger Hills particularly, where these plant- 

 ations are more extensive than in other elevated tracts, its visits are much dreaded 

 by the inhabitants : it biuTows in the earth with its nose in the same manner as hogs, 

 and in traversing the hills, its nocturnal toils are observed in the morning in small 

 ridges of mould recently turned up. 



The Mydaus forms its dweUing at a slight depth beneath the surface, in the 

 black mould, with considerable ingenuity. Having selected a spot, defended above 

 by the roots of a large tree, it constructs a cell or chamber, of a globular form, 

 having a diameter of several feet, the sides of which it makes perfectly smooth and 

 regular ; this it provides with a subterraneous conduit or avenue, about six feet in 

 length, the external entrance to which it conceals with twigs and dry leaves. During 

 the day it remains concealed, like a badger in its hole ; at night it proceeds in search 

 of its food, which consists of insects and their larvte, and of -w^orms of every kind : 

 it is particularly fond of the common lumbrici, or earth- worins, which abound in the 

 fertile mould. These animals, agreeably to the information of the natives, live in 

 pairs, and the female produces two or three young at a birth. 



The motions of the Mydaus are slow, and it is easily taken by the natives, who 

 by no means fear it. During my abode on the Mountain Prahu, I engaged them 



