THE MASKED PAGUMA. 
195 
It seems to be a very indolent animal, passing the day in sleep, and being with difficulty 
aroused from its slumbers. When irritated, it utters a sharp fierce growl, shows its teeth, and 
curls itself up again to sleep. While sleeping, it lies partly on its side, curled round with its 
head snugly sheltered under its bushy tail. The muzzle of the Binturong is short and sharp, 
rather turned up at its extremity, and covered with long brown hairs which radiate around 
the face, and impart a very curious expression to the animal. The eyes are of a dull chestnut, 
unless the creature is excited, when they flash out with a momentary fire which dies away as 
soon as the cause is removed. 
It is a good climber of trees, being assisted in this task by its tail, which is prehensile at 
the tip, and capable of grasping an object with some force. When in captivity it seems to 
prefer a vegetable to an animal diet, and feeds on rice, fruit, and other vegetable productions. 
But it is fond of eggs, birds, the heads of fowls, and other animal substances, and perhaps is 
MASKED PAGUMA .— Paguma larvata. 
best kept in health by a mixed diet. It enjoys a very excellent appetite, and whether its food 
be animal or vegetable, consumes an exceedingly large amount in comparison with the size of 
the consumer. 
The length of the Binturong is about two feet six inches, exclusive of the tail, which 
always equals, and generally exceeds, the body in length. Its height varies from a foot to 
fifteen inches. 
The curious animal which is represented in the engraving, has, until lately, been placed 
among the weasels, under the title of Masked Glutton, and has only of late years been referred 
to its proper place in the scale of creation. The title of Larvatus, or Masked, is given to it on 
account of the white streak down the forehead and nose, and the white circle round the eyes, 
which gives the creature an aspect as if it was endued with an artificial mask. There is a pale 
olive-gray band extending from the back of each ear and meeting under the throat, and the 
general color of the fur is an olive-brown, besprinkled and washed with gray. It has been 
found in China, from which country several specimens have been imported. There are many 
other species belonging to the same genus, such as the Nepal Paguma, the White Whiskered 
Paguma of Sumatra and Singapore, the Woolly Paguma from Nepal, and the Three-streaked 
Paguma of Malacca. 
The aximals which compose the little group of Paradoxures are very closely allied to the 
Pagumas and the Ichneumons, and appear to be confined to the Asiatic continent and its 
