1 88 



THE VIVERRINES. 



reference to their milk dentition all belong 

 to the less numerous group comprising the 

 genera with 36 permanent teeth, their 



formula consequently is 



' 3 



= 28. The 



same process which we have already observed 



in other families goes on here also; the 

 carnassial moves in a measure backwards 

 at the change of the teeth. 



All these animals diffuse a penetrating 

 musk odour, which is due to a secretion 

 formed in well-developed anal glands. In 



Fig. 90. The African Civet-cat ( Vivcrra Civetta). 



the true civets these glands are inclosed in 

 pretty large-sized pouches of a peculiar form. 



The mode of life of the Viverrida is very 

 varied. Some are nocturnal animals, while 

 others hunt only by day. Some run and 

 chase their prey like dogs, others slink up to 

 it and seize it with a spring like cats. Many 

 are expert climbers, others prefer the dry 

 bare soil of the steppes. The great majority 

 are exclusively carnivorous in their diet, but 

 some live chiefly on fruits. Certain species 

 can easily be tamed, and these render the 

 same services as cats, ridding houses of mice; 

 others, again, always remain wild and warlike 

 even against their own kind. 



The genera and species are very numerous. 

 We select from the number only a few repre- 

 sentatives of the two groups that we have 

 indicated. 



THE CIVETS 



(AILUROPOOA). 

 Digitigrade viverrines with retractile claws. 



The Common Genet (Gcnctta vulgaris), fig. 

 89, is the sole representative of this group in 

 Europe. It is met with throughout the whole 

 of the maritime districts of the western half 

 of the Mediterranean in Southern France, 

 Spain, Morocco, and Algeria north of the 

 Atlas. It prefers rocky slopes overgrown 

 with broom and pistachio shrubs to dense 

 woods, but climbs pretty well; and feeds on 

 birds, rats, mice, and, in case of necessity, 

 even on insects. 



It is a pretty animal, with a body measur- 

 ing about 20 and a tail of about 16 inches in 

 length. The ground-colour of its coat is a 



