Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra25271894roya).pdf/53

 is a small and very common species which during the day hides in the leaves of plantains, or palms, or, when it can, in caves. It eats fruits voraciously, especially figs (Ficus Miquelii and Benjamina), and I have seen it, or allied species, in great numbers at the Tembusu tree (Fagrea fragrans), Livistona australis, the Nepheliums, the Chiko (Achras sapota) and other trees.

It is difficult to see how these animals detect the fruit on the trees in the night, but perhaps they use the powers of sinell. In any case it must be easier for them to find the fruits than for the insectivorous bats to see and catch insects. at night. It appears to me that fruit-eating bats are much less. intelligent than the insectivorous kinds. They are slower in flight and more constantly caught in house at night being utterly confused by the light, whereas insectivorous bats fly readily in and out.

The Malays keep these animals off from the fruit trees by attaching to the boughs the thorny flagella of the rattans which are collected and sold for this purpose, so that the bats in flying to the fruit get their wings entangled and torn by the thorns.

Viverrida.—Of the greater number of the species of this group little or nothing is known as to their habits. All appear to be omnivorous, and certainly eat a very large quantity of fruit. They are nocturnal and find the fruit probably by the scent. The common civet cat or Musang (Viverra malaccensis) is a must destructive eater of cultivated fruit.

I have seen in its excreta the seeds of coffee, Gnetum scandens, Caryota Cumingii Mimusops elengi, and it is also very partial to the fruits of Artocarpus rigida and integrifolia (the Jack), Diospyros discolor, Achras sapota, and many other fruits.

Its habits of selecting the best coffee berries to eat is well known to planters, who often collect the seeds passed by the Musangs for cultivation, as giving stronger plants. It has a habit of dropping its excreta on open spaces, especially paths, so that the seeds passed by it can very readily grow.

The Binturong (Arctictis binturong) lives much on fruit.