398 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



tions, and cause as much devastation there as the Weazels 

 or Pole-Cats among ourselves. 



We shall now speak of the Mangouste of Java. We 

 have seen, in our last description, that after the separation 

 of all the species of this genus, which are distinguished by 

 precise characters, several remained, and formed a kind of 

 series, the graduations of which were marked by almost in- 

 sensible shades of colour. 



The Mangouste of Malacca, which we have just described, 

 may stand at the head of this indeterminate series, if we 

 commence it with the grayer tints, and the Javan Mangouste 

 may close it, as being of the brownest shade. 



In fact, the Mangouste of Java differs from the other 

 only by a fur picked out with black and brown, instead of 

 black and white, and by its somewhat larger size ; both have 

 the muzzle blackish, the back more deeply shaded than the 

 sides, the extremities, and the head. 



This species (if a species) is found not only in Java, but 

 also on the continent, and is probably dispersed through a 

 large portion of the East Indies. 



We have a description of it in Dr. Horsfield's Zoological 

 Researches in Java, rendered much more valuable by the 

 observations which accompany it in relation to the viverrine 

 animals in general, and the minute comparison he makes 

 between it and his Felis Gracilis, which he makes a distinct 

 genus of the Feline family. After what has been already 

 said on these animals in general, and on the Javanese 

 species or variety in particular, we shall not extract his 

 descriptions of physical peculiarities, but confine ourselves 

 shortly to those of mental impulse and local interest. 



It is known in Java by the name of Garangan, and is 

 found there most abundantly in the large teak forests; its 

 agility is greatly admired by the natives : it attacks and 

 kills serpents with excessive boldness, and in this operation 

 it is said that when the snake involves the Garangan in its 



