280 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



" The natives, when encouraged by the expectation of 

 purchasers, dig the animals out of their subterraneous re- 

 treats, and take them alive. The full-grown ones are with 

 difficulty secured, and seldom bear confinement long, but 

 roll and beat themselves about till they die. When taken 

 young, they are very manageable, docile, and playful. It is 

 a bold animal ; its hide remarkably thick, and its strength 

 too much for most dogs of common size. Its general food 

 is flesh, in any state; but it is remarkably eager after birds, 

 and living rats seem almost equally acceptable. It has an 

 inclination to climb upon walls, hedges, and trees : this, 

 however, it seems to execute clumsily ; but seldom falls, 

 and will ramble securely upon every arm of a branching 

 tree, that proves strong enough to bear its weight, without 

 much motion. This species burrows with great facility, 

 scratching the earth like a Dog, with the fore-feet, and ex- 

 pelling the loosened soil to the distance of two or three 

 yards backward. In ten minutes, it will work itself under 

 cover, in the hardest ground, and is restless till it can form 

 such a retreat to sleep in. It sleeps much by day, is watch- 

 ful during the night, discovering inquietude, by a hoarse 

 call or bark proceeding from the throat. The hair is short 

 and wiry, nor has it any of the softness of fur. It is known 

 to the natives of Hindostan by the name of Beejoo." 



The Nyentek of the Javanese, the Gulo Orientalis of Hors- 

 field, has been described by that eminent naturalist, in his 

 Zoological Researches, and beautifully engraved by Taylor. 

 It seems to be confined to some of the mountainous parts of 

 Java, and is very rare, the Doctor never having been able 

 to see it alive. It is somewhat smaller than the English 

 Polecat, and is rather more slender in the body than the 

 Gluttons in general. The fur is thick, consisting of long hairs, 

 closely arranged, silky at the base, of a brown colour, and 

 somewhat glossy, with a slight tint of reddish-brown. In cer- 

 tain lights, it appears diversified with grayish and tawny. 

 This fur covers the greatest part of the body and head, and 



