ORDER CARNASSIER. 397 



species, we cannot, but express, though with all deference 

 and respect, an humble doubt. 



We shall give a description of one of this indeterminate 

 series from M. F. Cuvier. It was brought from the penin- 

 sula of Malacca. This Mangouste, which is the generic 

 name of these animals in the East Indies, was rather more 

 than a foot in length, the tail about a foot, and his height 

 at the most elevated point of the back, five inches and a 

 half. These animals have a peculiar faculty of elongating 

 or shortening their bodies some inches, which renders it a 

 difficult matter to measure them correctly. 



The organs we have already described. This animal 

 drank by lapping, and held its prey to the earth, like Dogs, 

 for the purpose of devouring it. Its voice was generally 

 hoarse and croaking, but became sharp and sustained when 

 eager for food. 



The general colour of this animal is a dirty gray, resulting 

 from the black and whitish yellow rings, which cover the 

 hairs — the circumference of the eye, the ear, and the extre- 

 mity of the muzzle are naked and violaceous ; the tail is the 

 same colour as the body, very thick at the root, and termi- 

 nating in a point with yellowish hairs. 



This Mangouste, though extremely tame, permitting 

 itself to be handled, and taking pleasure in caresses, grew 

 extremely ferocious at sight of those little animals which 

 constitute its prey. Birds it was particularly fond of, and 

 when they were put into its cage, which was very large, it 

 would spring forward with a rapidity which the eye could 

 not follow, seize them, break their heads, and then devour 

 them with the utmost voracity ; as soon as its appetite was 

 satisfied, it would lie down in the most obscure corner of 

 its retreat. When irritated, the hairs of its tail used to 

 bristle up. Its cleanliness was extreme. We are informed 

 that in the Indies these animals inhabit holes in the 

 walls, or small burrows in the neighbourhood of habi(a- 



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