MYDAUS MELICEPS. 
as far as relates to the anal-glands ; but the follicule of the Badger is described as 
being similarly situated, and as secreting a fluid very similar in consistence, though 
of a less offensive nature. A striking affinity between Mydaus and Meles further 
exists in tlie slowness of their motions, tlie clumsy make of their bodies, their noc- 
turnal habits, tlie mode of constructing their dwellings, their food, and their manners 
generally : these, as far as relates to Mydaus, will be detailed in the sequel. Of the 
other animals of this family, which is distinguished by the character of plantigrade 
it is sufficient to mention the name, to shew that they cannot claim so much affinity 
to Mydaus as the genera with which it lias been compared : — they are Ursus, Procyon, 
Nasua, Cercoleptes, and Gulo. Mydaus should therefore be arranged between Meles 
on one side, and Mephitis on the other. This genus, it is true, is placed in the 
family of digitigrada* both by Baron Cuvier and by Mr. Desmarest. By the latter it 
is even removed beyond Mustela, which from its affinity, in many points, to Gulo, 
forms the connecting link between the families of plantigrade and digitigrada. 
But the character of Mephitis, as far as regards this point, appears both from the 
description of the Mephitis Mapurito by Mutis (Act. Holmiens. 1770, p. 68), who 
uses the following expression : — " talis ursorum instar incidentes and from the 
remark of Mr. F. Cuvier, who in comparing the Chinche with the Teledu, asserts 
that, as far as regards their external appearance, they have nothing in common but 
their " allure plantigrade." 
DIMENSIONS. 
Length of the body and head, from the extremity of the nose to 
the root of the tail 1 Foot, S| inches. 
of the naked tail £ do. 
.of the tail with its hairy covering.... 2 do. 
of the head 4 do. 
of the anterior extremities 3 \ do. 
of the posterior extremities 4^- do. 
The Mydaus meliceps presents a singular fact in its geographical distribution. 
It is confined exclusively to those mountains which have an elevation of more than 
7000 feet above the level of the ocean ; on these it occurs with the same regularity as 
many plants. The long-extended surface of Java, abounding with conical points 
which exceed this elevation, affords many places favourable for its resort. On 
ascending these mountains, the traveller scarcely fails to meet with our animal, 
which, from its peculiarities, is universally known to the inhabitants of these elevated 
tracts; while to those of the plains, it is as strange as an animal from a foreign 
country. A traveller would inquire in vain for the Teledu at Batavia, Semarang, 
or Surabaya. In my visits to the mountainous districts I uniformly met with it, and 
as far as the information of the natives can be relied on, it is found on all the moim- 
