THE GENET. 137 



reared, and which was tamer than a cat, and followed him 

 ,'herever he went. One day he brought to it a smaii water-ser 

 pent, being desirous of knowing how far instinct would carry it 

 against a creature with which it was entirely unacquainted. Its first 

 emotion seemed to be a mixture of astonishment and anger. Its 

 hair immediately stood erect: in an instant it slipped behind the 

 reptile, and with extraordinary agility leaping upon its head, 

 seized and crushed it with its teeth. This first essay awakened 

 its natural appetite for blood. It became formidable to the poul- 

 try, which it took every opportunity to destroy : it sucked their 

 blood, and ate only a part of their flesh. 



These animals abound not only in Egypt, but in the southern 

 countries of Asia: they are also found near the Cape of Good 

 Hope. They frequent the banks of rivers, are amphibious, and 

 will remain a considerable time under water. 



In this class are also enumerated the fossarit, the skunk, the 

 zorilla, and several others; all of them discriminated from one 

 another by some peculiarities, but their general characteristic 

 seems to be the disagreeable stench they emit, which, in a greater 

 or less degree, is common to all the animals of the weasel kind. 



Another tribe of this race is distinguished by the agreeable- 

 ness of their perfume. So prolific is Nature, and so various her 

 operations, that imagination itself cannot keep pace with the in- 

 finite diversity of her productions. All this variety is ordained 

 for some wise end, which, in a great measure, lies beyond the 

 reach of our investigation. Human research has discovered and 

 explained many of the wonders of Nature: future inquiries into 

 her secrets will lead to new discoveries ; but all the recesses of 

 the immense abyss will never be explored : man will never be 

 able to comprehend the whole plan of infinite wisdom. 



THE GENET 



Ts one of those odoriferous animals which emit a perfume 

 faintly resembling that of musk. It is somewhat longer than the 

 martin, with a long and slender head, a sharp muzzle, and ears 

 a little pointed. Its hair is soft, smooth, and shining, of a tawny 

 red, spotted with black. Along the back it has a mane of long 

 hair, which forms a black line from the head to the tail. The 

 spots on the sides are round and distinct, those on the back 

 nearly run together: its tail is long, and marked with seven or 

 eight rings of black. On the whole, it is a beautiful, cleanly 

 creature; and although active and persavering in pursuing its 

 prey, is of a mild and gentle disposition. Its colours are agree- 

 ably varigated, and its fur is held in great estimation. The genus 

 does not appear to be extensively diffused, being seldom seen 

 any where except in Turkey and Spain. At Constantinople they 



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