THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 SOUTH AFRICA 



THE CIVET CAT 



{Viverra civetta) 



Also known as the Lisisi of the Basutos ; Mpicamadhloti of 



Swazis (Kirhy) 



The Civet is not at all well known in South Africa, 

 for the reason that, although it is common in the 

 tropical portion of Africa, it only extends as far 

 south as Mashonaland and the eastern part of the 

 Transvaal. It is a shy secretive animal like the 

 mungoose, and is nocturnal, except in the wild se- 

 cluded districts, where it occasionally may be met 

 with on dull cloudy days, or late in the afternoon — 

 usually about sunset. It haunts the bush-veld, 

 wooded hillsides, and kloofs. On the least cause 

 for alarm it creeps noiselessly into the under- 

 growth and vanishes from view. It is usually 

 hunted by dogs from its bushy retreats, and is 

 then easily captured or killed. 



VOL. II I I 



