186 
THE DEL VXD IJJS/G. 
As far as is known of the disposition of this animal, it appears to be savage and irritable, 
bearing captivity very impatiently, and never losing its wild ferocious nature. It is a very 
BASSE .— Viverra indica. 
destructive creature among the animals on which it feeds, and on account of its long sharp 
teeth can inflict a severe bite when it is angry. In captivity it generally feeds on eggs, various 
birds, and meat and fish, and a little rice. The 
natives say that salt is a poison to it. 
DEL'D NDUN G. —PHonodon gracilis. 
The pretty animal which is represented 
in the accompanying engraving is remarkably 
rich in coloring, as well as graceful in form. 
The Delundung is a native of Java and 
Malacca, and is destitute of the scent-pouches 
which are so curious a characteristic of the 
preceding Yiverrine animals. It is not at all 
a common animal, and its habits are not very 
clearly known. 
The general color of the fur is a moderately 
deep gray, and upon the back are drawn four 
very large, saddle-shaped stripes of an exceed- 
ingly dark and rich brown, extremely broad 
on the spine, and becoming very narrow on 
the ribs. Along the sides run two rows or 
chains of similarly colored markings, the up- 
per band being occasionally merged in the 
broad stripes that cross the back. The lower 
band extends from the cheeks to the flanks. 
The legs are finely spotted, and the tail is 
covered with alternate rings of gray and dark 
brown, the rings becoming more distinct 
towards the point of the tail. 
The creature has been termed Prionodon, 
or c 4 Saw-tooth,” on account of the curiously 
shaped teeth, which present a jagged, or saw-like appearance. Its limbs are very slender 
and delicately formed. Although a scarce animal in every part of Java, it is especially so 
in any part of the island except the eastern end, where it is found among the thick forests 
with which that locality is densely clothed. 
