of Prionodon Pardicolor. 43 



From the nape to and beyond the shoulders proceed two 

 unbroken lines, and two others, less unbroken, run below 

 and parallel to them from behind the ears. The ridge of the 

 back has also an interrupted line extending from the shoulders 

 to the middle of the back. The body and outsides of the 

 limbs are adorned with large elliptic or squarish marks, which 

 descends to the wrist and heel with gradual diminution 

 of size and are disposed in pairs on either side of the spine. 

 The belly and insides of the limbs, as well as the inferior 

 surface of the head and neck are immaculate. The brilliant 

 hues of the body are annularly disposed on the tail, which 

 exhibits eight dark and eight pale rings going all round 

 the tail and of which the dark ones are rather the larger, and 

 of these the largest are towards the centre of the tail. All 

 these rings are complete save the uppermost, and near the 

 dusky tip of the tail the colours are blended vaguely but 

 still incline to an annular arrangement. In regard to habits 

 and manners it is remarkable that though the Prionodons 

 belong to the most typical group of the fierce carnassiers, the 

 present species would seem to be wonderfully docile, gentle, 

 and tractable. Mine had been taken in maturity only one 

 month before I got it, and yet it was as gentle as a dormouse, 

 and like that little creature, loved above all things to nestle 

 itself in its keepers bosom, being very sensitive to cold 

 and very fond of being petted : nor did it ever show the least 

 irritability. It was fed with raw meat, and refused fruits, 

 fish and eggs. Any sort of sound it never uttered, so that 

 I know not its voice. The species is very numerous in the 

 eastern half of the Sub-Himalayas, or Nepal and Sikim, but 

 is not usually caught for taming. Equally at home in trees 

 or on the ground, it dwells and breeds in the hollows of 

 decayed trees. It is not gregarious at all, and preys chiefly 

 upon small birds which it is wont to pounce upon from the 

 cover of the grass, using, it is said, a deal of strategy oc- 

 casionally, to draw its wary prey within reach of its spring. 



