HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 239 



tail is very thick at the bafe, and tapers to a point ; un- 

 derneath the tail is an orifice, from which a moft fetid 

 humour is fecreted ; its claws are long — It darts upon 

 its prey like an arrow, and feizes it with inevitable cer- 

 tainty. 



It has a fmall foft voice, fomewhat like a murmur; 

 and, unlefs {truck or irritated, never exerts it. When 

 it fleeps, it folds itfelf up like a ball, and is not eafily 

 awaked. It frequently fits up like a Squirrel, and feeds 

 itfelf with its fore feet ; catches any thing that is thrown 

 to it ; and will often feign itfelf dead till its prey come 

 within its reach. 



The F O S S A N E 



is rather fmaller than the Martin Its body is ilender, 

 and covered with hair of an afh colour, mixed with taw- 

 ny ; the fides of the face are black •, at the hind part 

 of the head there are four black lines, extending from 

 thence towards the moulders ; the tail is long, and annu- 

 lated with black ; its eye is full, round, and black, which 

 gives it a wild and mifchievous afpe£L 



It inhabits the ifland of Madagascar, Guinea, Cochin- 

 china, and the Philippine Ifles. It feeds on flefh and 



