* 
294 VEETEBRATA. 
those of a bear, with the snout, eyes, and tail of a hog. Its ears are short, completely covered 
with hair, and surrounded by a slight border of white. 
The individuals, a male and female, observed in the menagerie of the Governor-general at Bar- 
rackpoor by the French naturalist Duvancel, who furnished Cuvier with the materials for his 
description, were very shy and wild. They passed the greater part of the day buried beneath 
the straw" of their den, in deep sleep. All their movements were remarkably slow. Though 
they did not altogether refuse animal food, yet they exhibited a marked predilection for bread, 
fruits, and other substances of a vegetable nature. When irritated, they uttered a peculiar 
kind of grunting noise, and bristled up the hair of their back ; if still further tormented, they 
would raise themselves upon their hind-legs like a bear, and appeared, like that animal, to pos- 
sess great power in their arms and claws. 
This is confirmed by Mr. Johnson in his " Sketches of Indian Field-Sports." " Badgers in 
India," says he, " arc marked exactly like those in England, but they are larger and taller, and 
exceedingly fierce, and will attack a number of dogs. I have seen dogs that would attack a 
hyena or wolf, afraid to encounter them. They are scarce, but occasionally to be met with among 
the hills. In their nature they resemble the bear." 
The Anakuma Badger, M. Anakxima^ described by Temminck and Schlegel, is found in Japan. 
Its colors are disposed in nearly the same manner as those of the European badgers, but the 
bands of the head, instead of being white, are of a light red. The reddish tint prevails also over 
the lower parts of the body, instead of the grayish brown. It inhabits mountainous countries 
covered with forest, lives in burrows, is nocturnal in its habits, and feeds on frogs, lizards, earth- 
worms, and vegetables. 
Genus HELICTIS : Helktis. — This embraces three species of small animals nearly plantigrade, 
resembling the badger, but of the size of the martens. The Musked Helictis, H. moschata of 
Gray, is found in Pegu and China ; the Nepaul Helictis, H. Nipalensis, is found in Nepaul ; and 
the Oriental Helictis, H. Orientalis, is found in Sumatra. The two last were formerly ranked 
with the gluttons : their habits are little known. 
Genus MYDAUS : Mydaus. — Of this there is a single species, the Javanese Skunk, the Teledtj 
or Seng-gun G of the Javanese; the Teleggo of the inhabitants of Sumatra ; J^epA^if^St/am- 
nensis of Rafiies ; M. telagon of Gervais, and M. meliceps of Cuvier. It is twelve inches long; 
its tail two inches, with a pencil of hairs at the tip ; form attenuated, like that of the polecat ; 
feet plantigrade ; claws long and strong, proper for digging ; color blackish brown, marked with 
white or fawn on the head and back. It has two glands half an inch long, beneath the rectum, 
which secrete a disgusting odor like that of the skunks. 
It is found in Sumatra and Java, especially in the mountains and ridges of the latter which are 
cultivated for the production of wheat and European vegetables and fruits, such as potatoes, cab- 
bages, peaches, and strawberries, in a deep vegetable mould. Here the teledu ranges, and in its 
search for food injures the plantations and destroys the roots. It turns up the earth with its nose 
like a hog, and thus leaves vexatious traces of its nocturnal visits. 
The dwelling of the animal is formed at a slight depth beneath the soil, under the roots of a 
large tree, where it constructs a globular chamber several feet in diameter, smooth and regular ; 
there is a subterraneous approach to it about six feet long, the external entrance to which the ani- 
mal conceals with twigs and dry leaves. Here it remains hidden during the day, and at night 
comes forth to seek the insects and their larvse, and common earth-worms, which are its food. 
It is said to live in pairs, and the female produces two or three young at a birth, according to 
the accounts of the natives. 
The fetid matter, which they cannot propel beyond a distance of two feet, is very volatile, and 
spreads its efiluvia to a great extent. The entire neighborhood of a village is sometimes infected by 
the odor of an irritated teledu ; and it is so powerful in the immediate vicinity of the discharge, as 
to produce syncope in some persons. 
Dr. Horsfield describes the manners of this species as by no means ferocious, and states that 
if taken young it might, like the badger, be easily tamed. He kept one some time in confine- 
ment : it became gentle, and never emitted its ofi'ensive smell. He carried it with him from 
