3O NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



described never uttered any cry. Perhaps this 

 was because he was never teased or irritated, since 

 wild genets when attacked by dogs are stated to 

 hiss vigorously, and an example, recently living in 

 Paris, would snarl at once if disturbed. 



Captive genets soon become very tame. The 

 Liverpool specimen would allow himself to be 

 stroked and fed readily from the hand before he 

 had been eight weeks in England. On one 

 occasion his good temper was rather severely 

 tested, for it being desired to restore him to his 

 cage (he being unwilling) it took three-quarters of 

 an hour to secure him without injury ; nevertheless, 

 though thoroughly frightened, he neither uttered 

 any sound nor made any attempt to bite. He 

 was fed on fish, mice and fowl's heads ; he seized 

 his prey with a sudden snap of the jaws (weasel 

 fashion) instead of pouncing upon it like a cat. 

 This genet remained in excellent health after his 

 arrival in England, never having a day's illness, 

 showing the slightest ill-temper, or making any 

 attempt to escape from his roomy cage. He was, 

 eventually, sent away in the pink of health and 

 condition, " leaving situation for no fault of his 

 own," being exchanged for a nankeen night-heron 

 (Nycticorax caledonicus). 



It will thus be seen from the above account 

 that the Senegal genet makes an almost ideal pet. 

 Not only does the animal well repay the trifling 



