MANGUSTA JAVANICA. 



After the preceding observations, which are founded on a general survey of 

 all the species hitherto discovered, a few concise statements are stiU required to 

 illustrate the history of the Javanese Mangusta. The external form of the body 

 and head, and the proportion of the extremities, are in complete agreement with 

 those of the other Mangustte. The tail is very robust at the root, and gradually 

 attenuated to a point. This character shews itself strongly in my drawings and 

 specimens. The specific character of M. Desmarest, as far as regards the tail, does 

 not strictly apply to our species, and in Seba's figure, the tail is also represented 

 cyhndrical : 1 have therefore not admitted it as a synonyme ; it also differs in other 

 points. The eyes are disposed far anteriorly in the head, and the irides are reddish 

 brown. The form and structure of the external ear require a few remarks.. This 

 organ more nearly resembles the human ear than that of any other animal of this 

 order : with a slight distortion of parts, it affords an accurate representation of it ; and 

 all the divisions which have been named by anatomists, can be pointed out. The helix 

 is narrow, linear-oblong, somewhat obliquely disposed, and closely applied to the 

 head: the antihelix runs parallel to it, and is regular and distinct. The upper 

 extremity of the helix is united to a membrane which, after a slight curve, passes 

 transversely across the ear in a direction towards the antihelix : parallel to this is 

 another membrane, of somewhat larger dimensions, representing the segment of a 

 circle, which passes transversely across the ear in the same direction. Below this a 

 naked, depressed process of considerable extent stretches boldly into the ear, being 

 analogous in situation and direction to that part which, in the human ear, is called 

 the concha, a name which in too large a sense is applied to the entire auricle in 

 quadrupeds. At the exterior and lower angle of this, the marginal eminence 

 surrounding the ear rises again, and constitutes an obscure tragus that passes in a 

 narrow border circularly round the ear, to be united on the opposite side to an 

 equally obscure antitragus, which is immediately connected with the antihelix. 

 Between the tragus and antitragus the naked margin affords a slight indication of 

 the lobule : at the lower extremity of this, but concealed from view, the meatus 

 auditorius is disposed. An accurate representation of aU these parts, conformable to 

 this description, on which the separate parts are indicated by letters, is given in 

 the Plate of Illustrations, to which I beg leave to refer. 



The pouch situated between the organs of generation and the taU, which 

 affords a distinguishing character to this genus, is very extensive in our animal, 

 and agrees closely with the general description above given. 



The Javanese Mangusta is chiefly distinguished from the other Indian species, 

 and particularly from the Mangouste de Malacca, of M. Fred. Cuvier, by its darker 



