Burma : A Handbook of Practical Information - Khamkoo

MAMMALS 27
with the Rynchota or Bugs, and one with the Arachnida,
or Scorpions and Spiders. The work is still in progress.
In view, therefore, both of the immensity of the subject
and our slight knowledge of many of the groups of animals,
coupled with limitations of space, it appears advisable
to restrict the present brief sumvnary of the fauna of
Burma to the Vertebrates. This sub-kingdom comprises
the Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Batrachians, and Fishes—
animals of which our knowledge is more or less complete
and satisfactory.
The Mammals.—The first Order of Mammals contains
the Monkeys and the Lemurs. The Anthropoid Apes
are represented by two Gibbons — one of which, the
white-browed Gibbon, occurs in the north, and the other,
the white-handed Gibbon, in the south, of the province.
These monkeys are characterised by their very long
arms and the absence of a tail. The old-world monkeys
have shorter arms and a tail of variable length. The
Macaques, of which there are six species, have a cheekpouch
; but in the Langurs, of which there are five species,
this feature is wanting. A sixth species of these latter is
doubtfully reported from Tenasserim and should be
searched for. This monkey has the upper parts and tail
black, portions of the head and neck white, and the
lower parts bright ferruginous. The Lemurs have only
one representative in Burma :
it is widely distributed,
and nocturnal in its habits.
The next order, the Carnivora, comprises the Cats,
Dogs, Bears, and various small animals. The Tiger and
the Leopard are found throughout the province. Five
other species of Cats, all of smaller size, also occur.
Of the Viverridae, Civets, there are three species, and
somewhat similar to them are the two Tiger-Civets and
the three Palm-Civets. The Bear-Cat, or Binturong, is a
curious animal with a long, prehensile tail. Of the wellknown
Mungooses three species occur, of which the
so-called Burmese Mungoose is probably the commonest
-form.
Hyenas do not occur in Burma, and the Dog tribe is
only represented by the Jackal, which is found in the
neighbourhood of some of the towns in the northern part