IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 87 



Hab. — Himalayas. The specimen obtained for the garden was 

 captured near Darjeeling at an elevation of nearly 7,500 feet. 



Length of life in captivity. 



About eighteen months in this garden. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — As it is an animal of small size and cleanly habits, it 

 is much better to keep it by itself in a small cage. 



Food. — The specimen exhibited in this garden was fed on sparrows, 

 eggs, minced meat, grasshoppers, and bread and milk. Ordinarily it 

 had about two ounces of milk and a little bread in the morning, and 

 either an egg, or a sparrow, and a small quantity of minced meat in 

 the evening. Rats were occasionally given, and it killed them with 

 great ferocity. 



Treatment in sickness. 



This animal died from the effect of an abscess in its throat, which 

 did not admit of treatment. 



Habits. 



It is an extremely active, inquisitive and blood-thirsty little animal. 

 To try its strength guinea pigs were occasionally put in its cage, and 

 itJvilled them with wonderful ease and rapidity. It was otherwise a 

 sociable beast ; it twice escaped from its cage and did not stray far, but 

 amused itself by hunting squirrels. 



(94) THE TAYRA. 

 (GALICTIS BARBA.RA-(Linn.) ) 



Larger in size than the Indian marten ; prevailing colour brownish 

 black, a large yellowish white patch on the throat. 



Hab. — Tropical America. 



A specimen lived for about two years in the garden. This animal 

 had a remarkably heavy footfall. 



(95) THE INDIAN RATEL. 



(MELLIVOBA. IJNDICA— Kerr.) 



Hindi — JBiju, Bajar-bhal. 



Description. — This animal has a stout body and short limbs. 

 External ear almost wanting. The coloration is very well marked. 

 It is greyish white above, including the upper surface of the tail ; lower 

 parts, including the limbs, black ; face, the under surface of the tail and 

 its extremity also, black. A full-grown animal measures, head and 

 body, about 32 inches, and tail with hair about 6. 



Hab. — Found in India generally from the base of the Hima- 

 layas. Specimens have been obtained from Hazaribagh (West Bengal), 

 Orissa, Oudh, Behar, and the Central Provinces. 



