THE CIVET. 229 
general aspect of the creature is very similar to that of the hyena, for, in addition to the 
hyeenine sloping back and weak hind legs, the fur is rough, coarse, and coloured in a 
manner not unlike that of the striped hyena. The tail is very large in proportion to the 
size of the animal, and is thickly covered with long bushy hair, black at the extremity, 
and blackish-grey on the other portions of that member. The back of the neck and the 
shoulders are furnished with a thick bristling mane, which it can erect when excited, and 
it then resembles a miniature striped hyeena. 
The claws of the fore-feet are sturdy, and firmly attached to the paws, so as to serve 
their proper use of digging. The Aard Wolf is an admirable excavator, and digs for 
itself a deep burrow, where it lies concealed during the day, buried in sleep at the bottom 
of its mine. From this habit of burrowing in the earth, the creature has derived its 
title of “ Aard, or Earth Wolf.” 
A curious mode of domestic arrangement is carried out by these animals. Several 
individuals seem to unite in forming a common habitation. Several deep burrows are 
dug, having their common termination im a small chamber, where three or four Aard 
Wolves take up their residence. Whether each animal digs and uses its own burrow, or 
whether the tunnels, as well as the central chamber, are common to the inhabitants, is not 
known. It seems, however, to be probable that such a mode of procedure would be 
adopted, and that each member of the little community appropriated to itself the tunnel 
which its own paws had due. 
The colour of the Aard Wolf is grey, with a decided tinge of yellow. Several broad 
bands of darker fur are seen on the sides, and the paws are quite black. The hair of this 
animal is of two kinds,—a thick, short, woolly coating, which lies next to the skin, and 
a longer and coarser set of hairs, which protrude through the woolly coating, and hang 
downwards to some leneth. The adult Aard Wolf is about three feet six inches in total 
length, the tail being about a foot long. 
The food of this animal is similar to that of the hyena, and consists chiefly of 
carrion and small animals. It does not disdain to make an occasional meal on insects, 
for a number of ants were discovered in the stomach of an Aard Wolf that had been 
killed. 
The CIVET, sometimes, but wrongly, called the Civet Cat, is a native of Northern 
Africa, and is found plentifully i in Aby ssinia, where it is eagerly sought on account of 
the peculiarly scented substance which is secreted in certain olandular pouches. This 
Civet perfume was formerly considered as a most valuable medicine, and could only be 
obtained at a very high price; but in the present day it has nearly gone out of fashion 
as a drug, and holds its place in commerce more as a simple perfume than as a costly 
panacea. 
In this animal we may trace a decided resemblance to the Aard Wolf, both in the 
shape of the body and in the markings. 
But the Civet bears itself in a very different manner, having more of the weasel than 
of the hyzenine nature, aud the colouring of the fur is of a much richer character than 
that of the previously ‘mentioned animal. 
It is nearly as large as the Aard Wolf, its total leneth being about three feet six inches, 
of which the tail occupies nearly one- third. Along the back, and even on part of the 
tail, runs a boldly marked crest or mane, which can be erected by the animal at pleasure, 
or can he nearly, but not quite, evenly with the fur. 
The substance which is so prized on account of its odoriferous qualities is secreted in 
a double pouch, which exists under the abdomen, close to the insertion of the tail. As 
this curious production is of some value in commerce, the animal which furnishes the 
precious secretion is too valuable to be killed for the sake of its scent-pouch, and is kept 
in a state of captivity, so as to afford a continual supply of the odoriferous material. 
The mode by which the Civet perfume is removed from the animal is very ingenious. 
The animals which belong to this group are very quick and active in their movements, 
and, being furnished with sharp teeth and strong jaws, are dangerous beasts to handle. As 
may be imagined, the Civet resents the rough treatment that must be used in order to 
