168 ORDER T. 



rous unctuous substance is secreted from two inter- 

 nal follicles, and independent of another secretion of 

 a very offensive matter. It is this double secretion, 

 which, as one or the other prevails, causes the scent 

 to be called offensive or agreeable. 



Viverra civetta. The Civet. Grey, marked with 

 stripes of black, in general directed downwards, but 

 in some forming curved, and even circular figures ; 

 a mane along the back, black, erectile ; tail shorter 

 than the body, marked with six or seven black 

 rings, including the tip ; cheeks and limbs black. 

 Size of a fox, being nearly four feet in total length. 



This animal has been confounded by earlier natu- 

 ralists with the Genet, Zibet, and other allied species, 

 similarly producing a scenting substance. It is, how* 

 ever, one of the most powerful among the Vwerridoe, 

 but little known in a wild state, though abundant 

 in Abyssinia, where great numbers are kept in 

 confinement ; and some trade is carried on by the 

 natives with the Civet secretion, which they collect. 

 Dr. Shaw relates, in his natural history, how the 

 same substance was formerly obtained at Amster- 

 dam by the Dutch, while it was held valuable in 

 the drug market. In captivity, the Civet is a lazy 

 sluggish animal, sleeping constantly and feeding, 

 seemingly not even roused by the darkness of night, 

 although that period is their time of activity. As 

 the manners of Civets are most likely the same in 

 different species, we may infer the habits of the 

 present by those of the next. 

 Fiv. Bengalensis, Gray. The Bengal Civet. AVe 



