144 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
occasions it will bite with considerable fierceness. But 
in cold weather its anger is much more easily roused, 
and it evinces an excessive degree of irritability. Not- 
withstanding its apparent slothfulness it is easily dis- 
turbed, more especially by any unusual sound, the 
complicated structure of its large open organs of hearing 
rendering them peculiarly susceptible. It seems to 
become after a time in some degree familiar with those 
by whom it is fed and protected, and allows them to 
stroke it on the head and throat, appearing to take a 
pleasure in their caresses. 
In feeding it commonly seizes its food vnth both 
hands, and then consigns it to one, sitting upright on 
its haunches and generally suspended by its hinder 
paws, to eat it. When a small live animal is placed 
within its reach, it relaxes its hold with its fore paws, 
and seizing its victim with more rapidity than might 
be expected from its ordinary habits, destroys it with 
much dexterity, and soon deposits the carcass in its 
stomach, devouring the bones as well as the flesh, but 
rejecting the feathers of birds which it previously plucks 
off. It is probable that in a state of nature it lives almost 
wholly upon the trees, prowling abroad at night, and 
preying upon sleeping birds, insects, and mice, which it 
approaches unawares and seizes before they are suffici- 
ently roused to notice its proximity ; they would other- 
wise readily make their escape from an animal so tardy 
in its motions. When it fails in procuring these, it may 
have recourse to fruits, on which alone it thrives very 
well in captivity. 
Its nocturnal and unobtrusive habits may probably 
account in some degree for the rarity of its appearance. 
It seems, however, to be widely spread, having been 
found in Bengal and other parts of the Peninsula of 
Hindoostan, and in Ceylon, Penang, and Java. 
