354 MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE MAMMALS OF FORMOSA. [DeC. 9 



ruary. This specimen, a female, has, just helow the anus, an appa- 

 ratus like a large swollen vagina, which I at first took for that organ ; 

 but on further examination, the true vagina occurred a little above, 

 also much swollen. The vagina-like apparatus, which is the musk- 

 bag, is not deep, and possesses strong contrac ting-muscles. It was 

 empty, but emitted a strong musky odour, which tainted the skin 

 and the flesh of the entire animal. The beast measured 32g inches, 

 of which the tail measured 13 inches. The eyes were well sunk 

 in the inner corner of the sockets, and glared with hollow light, as 

 do cats' eyes, as well as those of many other animals of crepuscular 

 habits. The stomach, on dissection, I found empty, and the ovary 

 small. The Chinese eat the flesh of this animal ; but a portion that 

 I had cooked was so affected with the Civet odour, that I could not 

 palate it." 



6. Paguma larvata, J. E. Gray. Var. taivana. Chinese, Yu- 

 meen-maou (Gem-faced Cat). 



There are two specimens in the British Museum of P. larvata, 

 brought from China by Mr. Reeves. With these I have carefully 

 compared our single specimen, an adult male. T note the following 

 differences: — The ears in ours are smaller and rounder. Its tail is 

 two inches shorter, and has only two inches of black tip, instead of 

 half the tail being black ; it is also much larger. Its general tints, 

 again, are much darker. But as the colouring, the distribution of 

 black and white on the face and neck, and the black feet agree en- 

 tirely, I cannot but regard this as a strong insular variety of the 

 Chinese form. The body of this animal I have brought home ; so 

 that the skeleton, as well as the skin, will shortly be open to scientific 

 investigators at the British Museum. Dr. Giinther has kindly as- 

 sisted me in dissecting the body, which I had preserved in spirits. I 

 subjoin our notes upon it. 



" Testes outside abdominal cavity ; kidneys on the same level ; 

 spleen very elongate and narrow. Stomach externally horseshoe- 

 shaped ; the cardiac portion dilated, as broad as the fundus ; the 

 pyloric branch narrowed ; membrane of stomach and pyloric portion 

 thickened ; stomach containing a few bones of birds, one wing of an 

 hemipterous insect, and a large quantity of thick green berries with 

 minute seeds (Ficus, sp. ?). Small intestines 7}; times as long as the 

 trunk. Mesenterium with a very thin and broad layer of glandular 

 substance accompanying the ductus choledochus. At the distance of 

 two lengths of the trunk there is a large round patch of glands on the 

 side of the wall of the intestines; at 2|- lengths there occurs a second 

 patch ; five others follow at rather long distances, the last being in 

 the immediate neighbourhood of the csecal appendage ; this last is 

 about four times the size of the others, and is of an oblong form. 

 Csecum well developed, one inch long, including the processus ver- 

 micularis. Rectum about the length of the trunk." 



" Liver divided into four lobes, each of which has one or two small 

 notches. Gall-bladder oblong-orate, firmly attached to the lower 

 side of the middle lobe. Tongue covered with a thick layer of in- 



