VIVERRID. 207 
VIVERRIDA—THE CIVET FAMILY. 
The Civets are confined to the Old World ; they are mostly animals 
with long bodies, sharp muzzle, short legs, long tapering tail and coarse 
fur ; they are semi-plantigrade, walking on their toes, but keeping the 
wrist and ankle nearer to the ground than do the cats; the claws are 
only partially retractile; the skull is longer in the snout than that of 
felines, and, altogether narrower, the zygomatic arches not being so 
broad, the base of the skull is much the same, and the bulla tympani 
shews little difference ; the teeth, however, are decidedly different. There 
SS 
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SNS SS 
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Dentition of Civet. 
are four premolars and two molars on each side of each jaw, which, with 
the normal number of canines and incisors, give forty teeth in all; the 
canines are moderate in size, and sharp; the premolars conical, and the 
molars cuspidate, which gives them a grinding surface instead of the 
trenchant character of the cats ; the tongue is rough, the papillze being 
directed backwards; the pupils are circular, The most. striking 
characteristics of the family is, however, the sub-caudal pouch, which 
in most produces an odorous substance, and in the typical civet the 
perfume of that name. 
33 ; can., — ; premolars, = ; molars = 
: : ee Cs, : Be , mo 
The family contains the Civet, Genette, Linsang, Suricate, Binturong 
and Mongoose, though this last is separated by Jerdon, who follows Blyth. 
Dental formula : inc., 
