FLESH-EATING MAMMALS 13 



reference to an almost human frailty displayed by some of these 

 animals, in Ceylon and the south of India the natives are in the 

 habit of suspending vessels from palm-trees in order to collect 

 their sap, which, when fermented, is known as " toddy ", Palm- 

 Civets are particularly prone to help themselves to this beverage, 

 with the usual results. The arboreal Binturong or Bear-Cat 

 {Arctidis) of North India and South-east Asia, closely related 

 to the Palm-Civets, is of special interest, for its powers of climb- 

 ing are considerably enhanced by the possession of a grasping or 

 prehensile tail. 



All the Viverrines so far mentioned pursue their prey either 

 on the ground or among trees, but fishes and other inhabitants 



Fig. 310. — Mampalon {Cynogale Beiinetti) 



of lakes and rivers are not exempted from the attacks of animals 

 belonging to this rapacious family. An interesting case is afforded 

 by the Mampalon (Cynogale) of Borneo and Sumatra, an otter- 

 like creature with sharply-pointed teeth and partially webbed feet 

 (fig. 310). An expert swimmer, its food chiefly consists of fishes 

 and other aquatic forms, but its resources appear to be consider- 

 able, for it is said to climb well, and birds must be added to its 

 extensive dietary, which is also believed to include fruit. 



The Mangoustis include those Viverrines which are most 

 unlike the Felidas, and the most familiar species are those char- 

 acteristic of Egypt and India. Their food consists mainly of 

 small four-footed animals, birds, and snakes, and though they are 



