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Show 1870.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON CHINESE MAMMALS. 623 Later on in the summer I procured several more, and noticed that in some the white central face-streak gets almost obliterated by being smeared with black. In the hills of the Tinggan District, near Amoy, these animals appear to be common. They lie torpid in their holes during winter, but in summer come down to the fields of sweet potatoes, which they root up and eat. The natives call them " Sweet-potatoe Pigs," and lie in wait to shoot them with matchlocks. The flesh is not esteemed by the Chinese, and only the poorest classes eat it. Our South-China animal, as M . Alphonse M.-Edwards has lately shown me, is of the same species as that sent to Paris by Pere A. David from the neighbourhood of Pekin. This Badger, therefore, must have an extensive range. A second species also occurs near Pekin, the Meles leucolcemus of A. M.-Edwards. M. ankuma, Temm. & Schleg., is from Nagasaki (South Japan). In Formosa I noted no Badger. 30. HELICTIS MOSCHATA. (Musky Tree-civet.) Helictis moschata, Gray, P. Z. S. ii. p. 94 ; 1865, p. 153 ; Cat. M a m m . 1869, p. 142. Mr. Reeves originally brought this animal from Canton. I have got it from the neighbourhood of Amoy, and lately found it offered in the market at Shanghai. The Shangai specimens are more tinged with orange-yellow on the underparts, and in colouring come near the Formosan species. 31. HELICTIS SUBAURANTIACA. (Orange-tinted Tree-civet.) Helictis subaurantiaca, Swinhoe, P. Z. S. 1862, p. 355, pl. lxiv. ; Gray, P. Z. S. 18G5, p. 153 ; Cat. Mammals, 1869, p. 142. This species is found throughout the wooded hills of Formosa, but in the north end of the island it attains its richest colouring. In the south, near Takow, a specimen was brought to m e quite pale, and scarcely differing in outward appearance from the former species. Dr. J. E. Gray has pointed out (I, c.) the chief characteristics that distinguish this from its Chinese and Nepaulese allies. 32. MARTES FLAVIGULA (Bodd.), var. XANTHOSPILA. (Yellow- necked Marten.) This fine Marten was procured by my hunter in the forests of the central mountains of Formosa. It differs from Himalayan specimens in the British Museum in having the dark colour of the head less extended on the hind neck, and grizzled with white on the occiput, and in having the sides of the neck bright golden yellow. The skull is unfortunately within the skin, and so is not handy for comparison. Head purplish brown, grizzled with white on the occiput. Behind ear and backwards a long broad spot of purplish black. Chin, upper lips, and in a line backwards to lower edge of ear, throat, central streak of chest, and a stripe between the hind legs white. Sides of neck rich golden yellow. Fore part of back and fore |
