VIVERRA MUSANGA, 
Length of the body and head, from the extremity of the nose to 
the root of the tail 1 Foot, 10 inches. 
the tail 1 do. 6 do. 
the head 6 do. 
the anterior extremities 6 do. 
the posterior extremities 7 do 
Desceiption. — Head black, with a whitish-gray stripe, commencing near the 
inner angle of the eye, gradually increasing in breadth, and passing across the ears 
to the sides of the neck. Extreme point of the muzzle, surrounding the base of the 
nose, whitish. Body and anterior parts of the neck and breast, variegated gray and 
black, slightly inclining to tawny, very obscurely striated. Legs and tail black, or 
deep brown. Nose prominent at the extremity, and deeply furrowed. Ears short and 
rounded, provided with a very small anterior lobule. Bristles stiff and horny at the base, 
arising numerous and of great length from the upper lip posteriorly, singly and short 
above the eyes, and near the angle of the mouth. Eyes rather prominent, pupil 
round, irides dark Limbs rather short and robust. Claws large, strong, prominent, 
and scarcely retractile. Soles of the feet naked. Tail nearly the length of the 
body, very gradually tapering to the point, covered with long, coarse hair. Fur 
composed of hair somewhat stiff and bristly, not closely applied to the skin. Hair 
variegated, gray at the base, with longer or shorter black points, or entirely black, 
liable to vary with the age of the animal, whence results the difference in the marks 
of young and of adult subjects. 
In the most common variety of Java, the Viverra Musanga is of a much lighter 
grayish colour : three distinct longitudinal stripes appear on the back, and two some- 
what paler on the sides. The white colour bordering the base of the nose, is much 
more extensive, shewing itself also under the eye, and at the extremity of the lower 
jaw. These marks, with the white extremity of the tail, an inch or two in length, 
appear to be permanent. * 
In Sumatra the Musang assumes, agreeably to the description of Sir T. S. 
Raffles, illustrated by a specimen deposited in the Museum of the Honourable 
East India Company, a dusky fulvous colour, and the point of the tail is uniformly 
white. The stripes on the back and sides ;u-c more distinct than in the dark Javanese 
variety. The same appearances are exhibited on the figure in Mr. MarsdeiVs Hist, 
of Sumatra, p. 118. PL XII. No. 2. 
The teeth agree in the specimens from both Islands. The incisors present 
nothing peculiar. The canines are long, and slightly grooved. The molars are 
