Chapter 1

Produced by Ron Swanson

[Frontispiece: FELIS TIGRIS.]

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MAMMALIA OF INDIA AND CEYLON.

BY

ROBERT A. STERNDALE, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., &C., AUTHOR OF "THE DENIZENS OF THE JUNGLE;" "THE AFGHAN KNIFE;" "SEONEE, OR CAMP LIFE IN THE SATPURA RANGE," ETC.

WITH 170 ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR, T. W. WOOD, AND OTHERS.

CALCUTTA: THACKER, SPINK, AND CO. BOMBAY: THACKER AND CO., LIMITED. LONDON: W. THACKER AND CO. 1884.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

THIS POPULAR HISTORY OF OUR INDIAN MAMMALS IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED (BY PERMISSION) TO ONE WHO TAKES A DEEP INTEREST IN ALL THAT CONCERNS OUR EASTERN EMPIRE, THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK, G.C.S.I., LATE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND VICEROY OF INDIA.

PREFACE.

This work is designed to meet an existing want, viz.: a popular manual of Indian Mammalia. At present the only work of the kind is one which treats exclusively of the Peninsula of India, and which consequently omits the more interesting types found in Assam, Burmah, and Ceylon, as well as the countries bordering the British Indian Empire on the North. The geographical limits of the present work have been extended to all territories likely to be reached by the sportsman from India, thus greatly enlarging the field of its usefulness.

The stiff formality of the compiled "Natural Histories" has been discarded, and the Author has endeavoured to present, in interesting conversational and often anecdotal style, the results of experience by himself and his personal friends; at the same time freely availing himself of all the known authorities upon the subject.

CONTENTS.

NO. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1

ORDER BIMANA 3

ORDER QUADRUMANA 7

Genus Hylobates--The Gibbons--

1. Hylobates hooluck (_White-fronted Gibbon_) 8 2. " lar (_White-handed Gibbon_) 11 3. " syndactylus (_Siamang_) 12

Genus Presbytes--Cuvier's Genus Semnopithecus--

4. Semnopithecus _vel_ Presbytes entellus (_Bengal Langur_) 14 5. " _vel_ P. schistaceus (_Himalayan Langur_) 16 6. " _vel_ P. priamus (_Madras Langur_) 16 7. " _vel_ P. Johnii (_Malabar Langur_) 17 8. " _vel_ P. jubatus (_Nilgheri Langur_) 18 9. " _vel_ P. pileatus (_Capped Langur_) 18 10. " _vel_ P. Barbei (_Tipperah Langur_) 19 11. " _vel_ P. Phayrei (_Silvery-Leaf Monkey_) 19 12. " _vel_ P. obscurus (_Dusky-Leaf Monkey_) 20 13. " _vel_ P. cephalopterus (_Ceylon Langur_) 20 14. " _vel_ P. ursinus (_Great Wanderu_) 21 15. " _vel_ P. thersites 22 16. " _vel_ P. albinus (_White Langur_) 23

SUB-FAMILY PAPIONINAE 24

Genus Inuus--

17. Inuus _vel_ Macacus silenus (_Lion Monkey_) 24 18. " _vel_ M. rhesus (_Bengal Monkey_) 25 19. " _vel_ M. pelops (_Hill Monkey_) 26 20. " _vel_ M. nemestrinus (_Pig-tailed Monkey_) 26 21. " _vel_ M. leoninus (_Long-haired Pig-tailed Monkey_) 27 22. " _vel_ M. arctoides (_Brown Stump-tailed Monkey_) 28 23. " _vel_ M. Thibetanus (_Thibetan Stump-tailed Monkey_) 28

Genus Macacus--

24. Macacus radiatus (_Madras Monkey_) 28 25. " pileatus (_Capped Monkey_) 29 26. " cynomolgus (_Crab-eating Macacque_) 30 27. " carbonarius (_Black-faced Crab-eating Monkey_) 31

FAMILY LEMURIDAE 31

Genus Nycticebus--

28. Nycticebus tardigradus (_Slow-paced Lemur_) 31

Genus Loris--

29. Loris gracilis (_Slender Lemur_) 33

SUB-ORDER PLEUROPTERA--FAMILY GALAEOPITHECIDAE 33

Genus Galaeopithecus--

30. Galaeopithecus volans (_Flying Lemur_) 34

ORDER CARNARIA 35

CHEIROPTERA 35

MEGACHIROPTERA--SUB-FAMILY PTEROPODIDAE 36

Genus Pteropus--

31. Pteropus Edwardsii _vel_ medius (_Common Flying Fox_) 37 32. " Leschenaultii (Cynonycteris amplexicaudata) (_Fulvous Fox-Bat_) 40

Genus Cynopterus--

33. Cynopterus marginatus (_Small Fox-Bat_) 40 34. Macroglossus (Pteropus) minimus (_Tenasserim Fox-Bat_) 41

Genus Eonycteris--

35. Eonycteris spelaea 41

MICROCHIROPTERA--SUB-FAMILY VAMPYRIDAE 42

Genus Megaderma--

36. Megaderma lyra (_Large-eared Vampire Bat_) 42 37. " spectrum (_Cashmere Vampire_) 43 38. " spasma 43

RHINOLOPHINAE 44

Genus Rhinolophus--

39. Rhinolophus perniger _vel_ luctus (_Large Leaf-Bat_) 44 40. " mitratus (_Mitred Leaf-Bat_) 44 41. " tragatus _vel_ ferrum-equinum (_Dark-brown Leaf-Bat_) 45 42. " Pearsonii (_Pearson's Leaf-Bat_) 46 43. " affinis (_Allied Leaf-Bat_) 46 44. " rouxi (_Rufous Leaf-Bat_) 46 45. " macrotis (_Large-eared Leaf-Bat_) 47 46. " sub-badius (_Bay Leaf-Bat_) 47 47. " rammanika 47 48. " Andamanensis 48 49. " minor 48 50. " coelophyllus 48 51. " Garoensis 48 52. " Petersii 49 53. " trifoliatus 49

Genus Hipposideros _vel_ Phyllorhina--

54. Hipposideros armiger (_Large Horse-shoe Bat_) 50 55. " speoris (_Indian Horse-shoe Bat_) 50 56. " murinus (_Little Horse-shoe Bat_) 51 57. " cineraceus (_Ashy Horse-shoe Bat_) 51 58. " larvatus 51 59. " vulgaris (_Common Malayan Horse-shoe Bat_) 52 60. " Blythii 52 61. Phyllorhina diadema 52 62. " Masoni 53 63. " Nicobarensis 53 64. " armigera 53 65. " leptophylla 54 66. " galerita 54 67. " bicolor 55

Genus Coelops--

68. Coelops Frithii (_Frith's Tailless Bat_) 55

Genus Rhinopoma--

69. Rhinopoma Hardwickii (_Hardwick's Long-tailed Leaf-Bat_) 56

SUB-FAMILY NOCTILIONIDAE 56

Genus Taphozous--

70. Taphozous longimanus (_Long-armed Bat_) 57 71. " melanopogon (_Black-bearded Bat_) 57 72. " saccolaimus (_White-bellied Bat_) 58 73. " Theobaldi 58 74. " Kachhensis 58

Genus Nyctinomus--

75. Nyctinomus plicatus (_Wrinkle-lipped Bat_) 59 76. " tragatus 59

SUB-FAMILY VESPERTILIONIDAE 60

Genus Plecotus--

77. Plecotus auritus _vel_ homochrous 60

Genus Vesperugo--

78. Vesperugo noctula 61 79. " leucotis 61 80. " maurus 62 81. " affinis 62 82. " pachyotis 62 83. " atratus 62 84. " Tickelli 63 85. " pachypus 63 86. " annectans 63 87. " dormeri 63 88. (Vesperugo) Scotophilus serotinus (_Silky Bat_) 63 89. " " Leisleri (_Hairy-armed Bat_) 64 Scotophilus pachyomus 64 90. (Vesperugo) Scotophilus Coromandelianus (_Coromandel Bat_) 64 91. " " lobatus (_Lobe-eared Bat_) 65

Genus Scotophilus--

92. Scotophilus fuliginosus (_Smoky Bat_) 65 93. " Temminckii 65 94. " Heathii 66 95. " emarginatus 66 96. " ornatus 66 97. " pallidus 67 Noctulinia noctula 67 Nycticejus Heathii (_Large Yellow Bat_) 67 " luteus (_Bengal Yellow Bat_) 67 " Temminckii (_Common Yellow Bat_) 67 " castaneus (_Chestnut Bat_) 67 " atratus (_Sombre Bat_) 67 " canus (_Hoary Bat_) 67 " ornatus (_Harlequin Bat_) 68 98. " nivicolus (_Alpine Bat_) 68

Genus Harpiocephalus--

99. Harpiocephalus harpia 69 100. " (Murina) suillus (_The Pig-Bat_) 69 101. " auratus 70 102. " griseus 70 103. " leucogaster 70 104. " cyclotis 70

Genus Kerivoula--

105. Kerivoula picta (_Painted Bat_) 71 " pallida 72 106. " papillosa 72 107. " Hardwickii 72

Genus Vespertilio--

108. Myotis (Vespertilio) murinus 73 109. " Theobaldi 73 110. " parvipes 73 111. Vespertilio longipes 73 112. " mystacinus 73 113. " muricola 73 114. " montivagus 74 115. " murinoides 74 116. " formosus 74 117. " Nepalensis 74 118. " emarginatus 75

Genus Miniopterus--

119. Miniopterus Schreibersii 76

Genus Barbastellus--

120. Barbastellus communis 76 121. Nyctophilus Geoffroyi 76

INSECTIVORA 77

FAMILY TALPIDAE--THE MOLES 79

Genus Talpa--

122. Talpa micrura (_Short-tailed Mole_) 81 123. " macrura (_Long-tailed Mole_) 81 124. " leucura (_White-tailed Mole_) 81

FAMILY SORECIDAE 82

Genus Sorex--

125. Sorex caerulescens (_Common Musk Shrew, better known as Musk-rat_) 83 126. " murinus (_Mouse-coloured Shrew_) 85 127. " nemorivagus (_Nepal Wood Shrew_) 85 128. " serpentarius (_Rufescent Shrew_) 85 129. " saturatior (_Dark-brown Shrew_) 86 130. " Tytleri (_Dehra Shrew_) 86 131. " niger (_Neilgherry Wood Shrew_) 86 132. " leucops (_Long-tailed Shrew_) 87 133. " soccatus (_Hairy-footed Shrew_) 87 134. " montanus (_Ceylon Black Shrew_) 87 135. " ferrugineus (_Ceylon Rufescent Shrew_) 87 136. " Griffithi (_Large Black Shrew_) 88 137. " heterodon 88

Genus Feroculus--

138. Feroculus macropus (_Large-footed Shrew_) 88 139. Sorex Hodgsoni (_Nepal Pigmy-Shrew_) 88 140. " Perroteti (_Neilgherry Pigmy-Shrew_) 89 141. " micronyx (_Small-clawed Pigmy-Shrew_) 89 142. " melanodon (_Black-toothed Pigmy-Shrew_) 89 143. " nudipes (_Naked-footed Shrew_) 89 144. " atratus (_Black Pigmy-Shrew_) 89

Sub-genus Soriculus--

145. Soriculus nigrescens (_Mouse-tailed Shrew_) 90

Genus Crossopus--

146. Crossopus Himalaicus (_Himalayan Water-Shrew_) 90

Genus Nyctogale--

147. Nyctogale elegans (_Thibet Water-Shrew_) 92

Genus Corsira--

148. Corsira Alpina (_Alpine Shrew_) 92

Genus Anurosorex--

149. Anurosorex Assamensis (_Assam Burrowing Shrew_) 93

FAMILY ERINACEIDAE--THE HEDGEHOGS 93

Genus Erinaceus--

150. Erinaceus collaris (_Collared Hedgehog_) 96 151. " micropus (_Small-footed Hedgehog_) 96 152. " pictus (_Painted Hedgehog_) 97 153. " Grayi 97 154. " Blanfordi 97 155. " Jerdoni 97 156. " megalotis (_Large-eared Hedgehog_) 98

FAMILY HYLOMIDAE 99

Genus Hylomys--

157. Hylomys Peguensis (_Short-tailed Tree-Shrew_) 99

FAMILY TUPAIIDAE 99

Genus Tupaia--

158. Tupaia Ellioti (_Elliot's Tree-Shrew_) 101 159. " Peguana _vel_ Belangeri (_Pegu Tree-Shrew_) 101 160. " Chinensis 103 161. " Nicobarica 103 162. Gymnura Rafflesii (_Bulau_) 104

CARNIVORA 105

ARCTOIDEA--PLANTIGRADA 108

URSIDAE 108

Genus Ursus--

163. Ursus Isabellinus (_Himalayan Brown Bear_) 111 164. " (Helarctos) torquatus _vel_ Tibetanus (_Himalayan Black Bear_) 113 165. " (Helarctos) gedrosianus (_Baluchistan Bear_) 116 166. " " Malayanus (_Bruang or Malayan Sun Bear_) 116 167. " (Melursus) labiatus (_Common Indian Sloth Bear_) 118

AILURIDAE 123

Genus Ailuropus--

168. Ailuropus melanoleucos 124

Genus Ailurus--

169. Ailurus fulgens (_Red Cat-Bear_) 128

SEMI-PLANTIGRADES 130

MELIDIDAE; OR, BADGER-LIKE ANIMALS 130

Genus Arctonyx--

170. Arctonyx collaris (_Hog-Badger_) 131 171. " taxoides (_Assam Badger_) 132

Genus Meles (Sub-genus Taxidia)--

172. Meles (Taxidia) leucurus (_Thibetan White-tailed Badger_) 133 173. " albogularis (_White-throated Thibetan Badger_) 134

Genus Mellivora--

174. Mellivora Indica (_Indian Ratel or Honey-Badger_) 134

Genus Gulo--The Glutton or Wolverene 136

Genus Helictis--

175. Helictis Nipalensis (_Nepal Wolverene_) 138 176. " moschata (_Chinese Wolverene_) 138

MUSTELIDAE--MARTENS AND WEASELS 139

Genus Martes--The Martens--

177. Martes flavigula (_White-cheeked Marten_) 141 178. " abietum (_Pine Marten_) 142 179. " toufoeus 143

Genus Mustela--The Weasels--

180. Mustela (Vison: _Gray_) sub-hemachalana (_Sub-Hemachal Weasel_) 145 181. " (Gymnopus: _Gray_) kathiah (_Yellow-bellied Weasel_) 145 182. " (Gymnopus: _Gray_) strigidorsa (_Striped Weasel_) 146 183. " erminea (_Ermine or Stoat_) 146 184. " (Vison: _Gray_) canigula (_Hoary Red-necked Weasel_) 146 185. " Stoliczkana 147 186. " (Vison) Sibirica 147 187. " alpina (_Alpine Weasel_) 147 188. " Hodgsoni 147 189. " (Vison) Horsfieldi 148 190. " (Gymnopus) nudipes 148

Genus Putorius--The Pole-cat--

191. Putorius larvatus _vel_ Tibetanus (_Black-faced Thibetan Pole-cat_) 149 192. " Davidianus 149 193. " astutus 150 194. " Moupinensis 150

LUTRIDAE--The Otters 150

Genus Lutra--

195. Lutra nair (_Common Indian Otter_) 153 196. " monticola _vel_ simung 155 197. " Ellioti 155 198. " aurobrunnea 155

Genus Aonyx--Clawless Otters--

199. Aonyx leptonyx (_Clawless Otter_) 156

AELUROIDEA 156

FELIDAE--The Cat Family

Genus Felis--

200. Felis leo (_Lion_) 159 201. " tigris (_Tiger_) 161

THE PARDS OR PANTHERS 175

202. Felis pardus (_Pard_) 179 203. " panthera (_Panther_) 183 204. " uncia (_Ounce or Snow Panther_) 184 205. " Diardii _vel_ macrocelis (_Clouded Panther_) 185 206. " viverrina (_Large Tiger-Cat_) 187 207. " marmorata (_Marbled Tiger-Cat_) 188 208. " Bengalensis (_Leopard-Cat_) 189 209. " Jerdoni (_Lesser Leopard-Cat_) 191 210. " aurata (_Bay Cat_) 191 211. " rubiginosa (_Rusty-spotted Cat_) 192 212. " torquata (_Spotted Wild-Cat_) 193 213. " manul (_Black-chested Wild-Cat_) 193 214. " scripta 194 215. " Shawiana (_Yarkand Spotted Wild-Cat_) 194 216. " chaus (_Common Jungle-Cat_) 195 217. " isabellina (_Thibetan Lynx_) 197 218. " caracal (_Red Lynx_) 198 219. " jubata (_Hunting Leopard_) 200

HYAENIDAE--THE HYAENAS 203

Genus Hyaena--

220. Hyaena striata (_Striped Hyaena_) 205

VIVERRIDAE--THE CIVET FAMILY 207

Genus Viverra--

221. Viverra zibetha (_Large Civet Cat_) 208 222. " civettina (_Malabar Civet-Cat_) 209 223. " megaspila 209 224. " Malaccensis (_Lesser Civet-Cat_) 211

Genus Prionodon--

225. Prionodon pardicolor (_Tiger Civet or Linsang_) 212 226. " maculosus (_Spotted Linsang_) 213 227. " gracilis (_Malayan Linsang_) 215

Genus Paradoxurus--The Musangs--

228. Paradoxurus musanga (_Common Musang_) 216 229. " (Paguma _of Gray_) Grayii (_Hill Musang_) 217 230. " bondar (_Terai Musang_) 218 231. " trivirgatus (_Three-striped Musang_) 218 232. " leucotis (_White-eared Musang_) 219 233. " zeylanicus (_Golden Musang_) 220 234. " (Paguma) laniger 220

Genus Arctictis--

235. Arctictis binturong (_Binturong_) 221

HERPESTIDAE--THE ICHNEUMON OR MUNGOOSE FAMILY 222

Genus Herpestes--

236. Herpestes pallidus _vel_ griseus (_Common Grey Mungoose_) 223 237. " Jerdoni _vel_ monticolus (_Long-tailed Mungoose_) 225 238. " Smithii (_Ruddy Mungoose_) 225 239. " auropunctatus (_Gold-speckled Mungoose_) 225 240. " fuscus (_Neilgherry Brown Mungoose_) 226 241. " (Onychogale _of Gray_) Maccarthiae 226 242. " ferrugineus 226 243. " vitticollis (_Stripe-necked Mungoose_) 227 244. Urva cancrivora (_Crab-eating Mungoose_) 227

CYNOIDEA 228

Genus Canis--The Dog-- 245. Canis pallipes (_Indian Wolf_) 232 246. " laniger (Lupus chanco _of Gray_) (_Thibetan Wolf_) 235 247. " lupus (_European Wolf_) 237 248. " aureus (_Jackal_) 237

Genus Cuon--

249. Canis (Cuon) rutilans (_Indian Wild Dog_) 239

Genus Vulpes--