460 



THE CARNIVORES 



we have had occasion to allude. The old civets of Europe differ somewhat in the 

 characteristics of their teeth from the living species, but appear in other respects 

 to have been nearly allied. Very few of the exising genera of Mammals date so far 

 back as the upper portion of the Eocene period, and civets may be regarded as one 

 of the oldest groups in the class. 



Omitting mention of an animal from Madagascar closely allied to the rasse, and 

 known scientifically as the Fossa which must not be confounded with the fossa 

 mentioned above our next representatives of the family are 



THE GENET. 

 (One-fourth natural size. ) 



THE GENETS 

 Genus Genetta 



Among the little animals known as genets is one of the two members of the 

 civet family found in Europe. Although nearly related to the true civets, the 

 genets may be distinguished by the greater proportionate length and slenderness of 

 their bodies, and their shorter legs, as well as by their longer and more tapering 

 tails, and their shorter and blunter claws. Then, again, the hind-foot of a genet 



