1847.] On the Cat-toed Subplantiyrades. 1115 



genera so complete in some respects as I formerly had. On the other 

 hand I have added some fresh items to my former knowledge of the 

 animals, and I can still refer to much that is valuable relative to those 

 pristine investigations; and as the Wahs or Pandas are animals as rare 

 as they are understood, whilst the Screwtails, if commoner and better 

 known, are still an enigma in many essential respects, I purpose to put 

 together such an account of the organization and habits of both genera 

 as my present appliances and means will permit. 



In 1 833 I transmitted to the Zoological Society a full and careful de- 

 scription of the habits and of the hard aud soft anatomy of Ailurus, in 

 the composition of which I was assisted by Dr. Campbell, and which 

 latter included a comparison with the anatomy of Ursus on the one 

 hand and Ursitaxus on the other. What became of that paper I know 

 not, and have now to regret that the original MS. was lost with 

 many others of great value at the period of my hurried departure for 

 Europe. But the memoranda I still possess contain many valuable 

 particulars, which I now proceed to summarise. 



Order Carnassiers. 



Family Carnivora. 



Tribe Plantigrades. 



Genus Ailurus, Cuvier. 

 Range. The Ailuri appear to be confined exclusively to the sub-Hi- 

 malayas, no species having yet been discovered elsewhere. In these 

 regions their habitat is limited to tracts between 7 or 8, and 12 or 

 13,000 feet of elevation, so that they tenant the Northern confines of 

 the central region of the mountains and all the juxta nivean or Cachar 

 region as far as the forests extend, far beyond the limits of arboreal 

 vegetation ; they do not dwell in the direction of the snows. 



Manners. These quiet inoffensive animals in their manners and diet 

 much resemble the Badgers of our land, the Lemurs of Madagascar* 

 and the Racoons, Coatis and Potos of America, the last most nearly ; 

 but as few persons are familiar with these animals, I shall, to avoid the 

 illustration of ignotum per ignotius, proceed to mark the differences 

 from the first named animals, to wit, that the Badgers are sub-omnivo- 



referred to the Transactions. Let me add that in these allusions to the past I utterly dis- 

 claim complaint on my own part, but think that for those whom it concerneth advertence 

 to the past may help the future. 



