CIVET.—Viverra Civetta. 
effect the desired purpose, and snaps and twists about with such lithe and elastic vigour 
that no one could venture to lay a hand on it without sutticient precaution. So, when 
the time arrives for the removal of the perfume, the Cive> is put into a long and very 
narrow cage, so that it cannot turn itself round. A bone or horn spoon is then introduced 
through an opening, and the odoriferous secretion is scraped from its pouch with perfect 
impunity. This end achieved, the plundered animal is released from its strait durance, 
and is permitted a respite until the supply of perfume shall be re-formed. 
As the Civet might be inconvenienced by the continual secretion of this substance, 
Nature supplies a simple remedy, and the perfume falls from the pouch in pieces about 
the size of an ordinary nut. The interior of each half of the pouch is sufficiently 
capacious to hold a large almond. As the civet is formed, it is pressed through very small 
orifices into the pouch, so that if it is examined before it has merged itself into a 
uniform mass, it is something like fine vermicelli in appearance. The interior of the 
pouch is thickly coated with fine hairs, and entirely covered with the minute orifices or 
pores through which the perfume exudes. The creature is able to compress the pouch 
at will. 
The Civet seems to be a very sleepy animal, especially during the daytime, and to 
be with difficulty aroused from its somnolence. 
While it remains in the pouch, the “civet” is rather thick and unctuous, something 
hke butter in texture. 
The use which this curious secretion subserves in the economy of the creature is very 
dubious. It is not sufficiently liquid to be ejected against its pursuers, and so to repel 
them by its odour, as we know to be the case with the celebrated skunk of America, and 
other animals. It may be, that this substance can be re-absorbed into the system, and thus 
serve an important purpose; but, whatever its use may be, it is clear that it serves 
some worthy object, and that therefore the production of this secretion is deserving the 
attention of those who have the opportunity of making practical experiments. 
The claws of the Civet are only partially retractile. The eyes are of a dull brown, very 
protuberant, and with a curiously changeable pupil, which by day exhibits a rather broad 
linear pupil, and glows at night with a brilliant emerald refulgence. The body is 
