1Z17 



VITREOUS HUMOUR. 



VIVERIUD^E. 



1218 



September are several degrees below. Nor will the mean temperature 

 serve as a rule to indicate where the vine may be cultivated. England 

 has a mean temperature as high as many parts of the world, where 

 the vine flouishes in the greatest perfection ; but it will be found 

 that although England is warmer than these countries in the winter, 

 it is not so warm in the months of September and October, at which 

 time the vine is ripening its fruit. 



The fruit of the vine is used as an article of diet in several ways. 

 Its agreeable sweet acid flavour when ripe has always rendered it a 

 very desirable food when fresh. The ancients also, there can be little 

 doubt, were in the habit of drinking the expressed juice of the grape 

 before fermentation. Grapes are also dried and used under the name 

 of raisins. The drying is generally effected by cutting half through 

 the fruit-stalk whilst they are suspended on the tree. Grapes thus 

 dried are called Muscatel raisins, and are principally brought from 

 Spain and the Levant. There is another dried grape used much in 

 this country, called currants, or Corinths, but which are very different 

 things from the common currant of our gardens, and are the produce 

 of a vine which grows in Zante and Cephalonia. [WISE, in ARTS AND 

 Sc. Dry.] 



Some of the species of Vita have been introduced into our shrub- 

 beries and gardens as ornamental climbers. 



VITREOUS HUMOUR. [EYE.] 



VITRPNA, Draparnaud's name for a genus of Helicidte. 



M. De Ferussac nas divided the genus into the genera Hdicolimax 

 and Udicarion. The last-named sub-genus consists of exotic species, 

 which seemed to him to approximate more nearly to Parmacella. We 

 subjoin illustrations to these two genera. [HKI.ICID.E ; LI.MAX.] 



Htlicolimax pellucida. 

 Shell magnified. Animal natural size. 



(i, Shell of Tfelicarlon Cuvieri ; l>, Telicanvn Frct/cinetti. 



VITRIOL, BLUE. [COPPER.] 



VITRIOL, GREEN. [IRON; MELANTERITE.] 



VITRIOL, WHITE. [Zi.xc.] 



VITT^E, in Botany, a term most frequently applied to the recep- 

 tacles of oil which are found in the fruits of Umbelliferous plants. 

 [UMBELLIFER.S.I 



VIVERRA. [VlVERRIDJ!.] 



VIVE'RRIDA;, a family of Carnivorous Animals, embracing the 

 genus Viverra of Linnaeus. This author thus defines his genus Viverra: 

 Denies primores vi : intermediis brevioribus. Molares plus quam 

 tres. Lingua retrorsum, rape aculeata. Uugues exserti. 



The species comprised under this genus, in the twelfth edition of 

 the ' Systema Nature;,' are Viverra ichneumon, V. nasua, V. narica, 

 V. putoriui, V. Zibetha, and V. Genelta. 



Linnaeus places the genus between Felis and Mutlela. 



The Civettes ( Viverra) of Cuvier are arranged, in his last edition of 

 the 'Regne Animal,' between the Dogs (Canis) and the Hyjenas, 

 which are immediately followed by the Cats. 



The Civets are subdivided into, 1, the Civets, properly so called 

 (Virerra, Cuv.) ; 2, the Genets (Genetta, Cuv.); 3, the Paradoxure 

 (Paradoxvnu, K. Cuv.); 4, the Mangoustes (Uerpeatei, 111.) ; 5, the Suri- 

 cates (Ryzcena, 111.) ; and, 6, the Mangues (Crossarchwi, F. Cuv.). 



Cuvier says of this group that the genera composing it have three 

 false molars above, and four below, the anterior of which sometimes 

 fall out; two rather large tuberculous teeth above, a single one below, 

 and two projecting tubercles on the iuside of their lower canine ante- 

 riorly, the rest of that tooth being more or less tuberculous. Their 

 tongue be describes as beset with sharp and rough papillae ; their 

 claws are raised more or less in walking ; and there is near their anus 

 a more or less deep pouch, where particular glands secrete an unctuous 

 and often odoriferous substance. 



The Viverrina, Dr. J. E. Gray's third family of Felidw, is the first 

 of bis second subdivision of that family, namely, Necrophaya. 



The Viverrina comprise the following genera : Viverra, Proldee, 



MAT. BIST. D1V. VOL. IV. 



Prionodon, Genetta, Galidia, Galictis, Herpestes, Mungoz, Atilax, Ich- 

 neumia, Uva, Crossanhus, Ryzana, Hemigale, Paradoxurus, Payuma, 

 Arctictis, Cynogale, Cryptoproc/a, and Bassarin. 



Viverra (Cuv.). The deep pouch situated between the anus and 

 the sexual organs, is divided into two bags filled with an abundant 

 concretion of the consistence of pomade, exhaling a strong musky 

 odour, secreted by glands which surround the pouch. Pupil of the eye 

 round during the day. Claws only half retractile. Dental Formula : 



Incisors, - ; Canines, l ; Molars, = 36. 

 6 ' 11 ' 44 



V. Cii'etta, the Civet. Length of the elongated body from two to 

 three feet ; tail about half as long as the body. Height from ten inches 

 to a foot. Hair of the body long, brownish-gray, with numerous inter- 

 rupted transverse black bands or spots of the same colour. The hairs 

 on the ridge or middle line of the back from between the shoulders 

 are longer, and can be raised or depressed at the pleasure of the animal. 

 Legs and most part of tail black ; upper lip and sides of the neck almost 

 white. Eyes sjiirrounded each by a black patch. Two or three black 

 bauds pass from the base of the ears obliquely towards the shoulder 

 and neck, which last has a broad black patch. It is a native of the 

 north of Africa. 



The Civet approaches in its habits nearest to the Foxes and smaller 

 Cats, preferring to make its predatory excursions against birds and 

 smaller quadrupeds in the night, although, like these Carnivora, it 

 will occasionally attack its prey in the daytime. 



In a state of captivity it becomes in a degree tame, but never 

 familiar, and is dangerous to handle. The young are fed on farina- 

 ceous food, millet-pap for instance, with a little flesh or fish ; and, 

 when old, on raw flesh. Many of them are kept in North Africa to 

 obtain the perfume which bears the name of the animal, and brings a 

 high price. The civet is procured by scraping the inside of the pouch 

 with an iron spatula at intervals about twice a week. If the animal 

 is in good condition and a male, especially if he has been irritated, a 

 dram or thereabouts is obtained each time. The quantity collected 

 from the female does not equal that secreted by the male. Civet, liko 

 most other articles of this nature, is much adulterated, and it is rare 

 to get it quite pure. The adulteration is effected with suet or oil to 

 make it heavier. 



Civet (Yfrerrtt Civetta}. 



V. Rasse is a species found in Java. Dr. Horsfield says "it supplies 

 in Java the place which the V. Civetta holds in Africa, and the V. 

 Zibetha on the Asiatic continent from Arabia to Malabar, and in the 

 large islands of. the Indian Archipelago. I have endeavoured to show 

 that, by its form and marks, it is essentially distinct from the V, 

 Zibetha; and it differs as much in its natural disposition as in external 

 characters. The V. Zibetha is an animal comparatively of a mild dis- 

 position ; it is often found among the Arabs and Malays who inhabit 

 the maritime parts of Borneo, Macassar, and other islands, in a state 

 of partial domestication ; and, by the account of the natives, becomes 

 reconciled to its confinement, and iu habits and degree of tameness 

 resembles the common domestic cat. The Rasse, on the contrary, 

 preserves in confinement the natural ferocity of its disposition undi- 

 minished. As the perfume is greatly valued by the natives, it is 

 frequently kept in cages ; but, as far as I have observed, must always 

 be obtained for this purpose from a wild state, never propagating in a 

 state of confinement. 



"The Rasse is not unfrequently found in Java, in forests of a 

 moderate elevation above the level of the ocean. Here it preys on 

 small birds and animals of every description. It possesses the san- 

 guinary appetite of animals of this family in a high degree, and the 

 structure of its teeth corresponds strictly with the habits and modes 

 of life. In confinement it will devour a mixed diet, and is fed on 

 eggs, fisli, flesh, and rice. Salt is reported by the natives to be a 

 poison to it. The odoriferous substance is collected periodically : the 

 animal is placed in a narrow cage, in which ths head and anterior 

 extremities are confined ; the posterior parts are then easily secured, 

 while the civet is removed by a simple spatula." 



The substance obtained from the Rasse agrees with the civet 

 afforded by the V. Civetta and V. Zibetha in colour, consistence, and 

 odour. It is a very favourite perfume among the Javanese, and applied 



4 I 



