56 CARNIVORA. 



CHINESE BUSH OR CIVET CAT. 



Vivcrra zihctlia. 



French : Civette de Chine. German : Chmesischer 

 Zibeth Katze. 



This Cat is most probably a variety of the foregoing 

 species, to which it has a great resemblance, but is 

 rather lighter in colour. The fur or hair is rather finer 

 and thicker. The general colour is light yellow or grey, 

 and generally slightly spotted. The head and neck is, 

 however, distinctl}^ marked with black and white. In 

 some examples there is a deep stripe of black down the 

 back, with two fainter lines, one on each side. The tail 

 is long and thick-furred, and striped with six large 

 broad black rings, of which the last is at the tip, and 

 is much smaller. The feet are dark. 



The skins are generally imported from China in plates 

 or linings, but only in small quantities. Sometimes a few 

 hundred skins are sent ; in 1891, 1,200 were imported. 



Professor Johnston, in his " Chemistry of Common 

 Life" (p. 55), says that the substance known in commerce 

 b^y the name of civet is produced by this and the fore- 

 going species. 



"It is of a pale yellow or brownish colour, has 

 usually the consistence of honey, and possesses a some- 

 what acrid taste. Its smell resembles that of musk. 

 When undiluted, this smell is so powerful as to be 

 offensive to many ; but when mixed with a large 

 quantity of butter, or other diluting substance, it 



