40 Observations on the Manners and Structure 



cold of the heights, to the milder climate of the valley. The 

 expence that might accrue from making the experiment of a 

 small establishment there, is one from which a liberal govern- 

 ment ought not to shrink, and it is but fair to add that 

 Dr. Murray* s plans might have been carried into effect, but 

 for the want of cordial co-operation on the part of the inter- 

 mediate medical authorities. 



J. M. P. 



Observations on the Manners and Structure of Prionodon Pav- 

 dicolor. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



It is now nearly twenty-five years since Dr. Horsfield de- 

 fined that singular half-feline, half-viverrine genus Prionodon, 

 of which he described one species peculiar to the mountains 

 of Java. To this genus no second species was added until 

 1841, when I described another proper to the Sub-Himalayas 

 in the 5th No. of this Journal, from skins procured in Nepal 

 and Sikim. I have lately been so fortunate as to obtain a 

 living specimen of the mature animal, and, though it has since 

 died, I have thus been enabled to make a few observations 

 relative to its manners, as well as to complete the examina- 

 tion of its structure ; and on these grounds I recur to the 

 subject, Dr. Horsfield's statement of the organization being 

 confessedly deficient in some material points. 



This exceedingly elegant and amiable little creature mea- 

 sures in length from fourteen to fifteen inches, and the tail 

 twelve to thirteen more. Its height is about five to five and 

 a half inches ; the girth of its chest five and three quarters, 

 and the length of head to the occiput, about three inches. 

 The ear is one and a quarter inch long : the fore-leg, from 

 elbow to tip of toe, three inches, with a palm of one and a half 

 inch : the hind leg from knee to heel two and three quarters, 

 and heel to toe two and a quarter. The weight about one 

 pound. In form and proportions there is a very great resem- 



