2 i6 Lloyd's natural history. 



Punjab and Sind, this species seems to range over the whole 

 of India. It has the widest geographical distribution of any 

 member of the Family ; and is also the only one common to 

 Asia and Madagascar ; the latter feature in its distribution 

 being a very remarkable one. 



Habits. — So far as has been ascertained, while all the other 

 Civets are non-arboreal animals, the Rasse is said to be an 

 expert climber, although it is generally found inhabiting holes 

 in the ground, and does not appear to have been observed in 

 thick forest. Not unfrequently resorting to the neighbourhood 

 of human dwellings, it has been met with hiding in drains and 

 outbuildings; and it is frequently kept in captivity in the East, 

 in which condition it becomes perfectly tame. In addition to 

 preying on such birds and small Mammals as it can contrive to 

 capture, the Rasse, like its congeners, varies its diet with fruit 

 and roots. Four or five young are produced in a litter. 



III. THE MADAGASCAR CIVETS. GENUS FOSSA. 

 Fossa, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 518. 

 Nearly allied to the Rasse, the single representative of this 

 imperfectly-known genus is distinguished from all the members 

 of the preceding group by the presence of two small bare spots 

 on the under surface of the metatarsus in the hind-limb ; while 

 it is believed that there is no scent-pouch. The limbs are re- 

 markable for their slenderness j and the absence of a dark line 

 down the back, and also of a dark gorget, form other distinc- 

 tive features of the genus. The one species is confined to 

 Madagascar. 



1. daubenton's civet, fossa daubentoni. 

 Viverra fossa, Schreber, Saugethiere, vol. iii. pi. cxiv. (1778). 

 Fossa danbentonii, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 518 ; Mivart, 

 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 150. 

 Characters. — General colour of fur greyish, which may be 



