Ill* 



VIVERRID.E. 



VIVEURtn.K. 



ISM 



both to their drsssss tad, by mean* of various unguents and mixture* 

 of flower*, to their persons. Even the apartment* and the furniture 

 of the natiree of rank are generaUy scented with it to such a degree 

 a> to be offensive to Europani ; and at their feasU and public pro- 

 cession* the air U widely filled with this odour. ('Zoological 

 Beaiarches.') 



RJUM IJ'irerra Ram). (Horsfielil.) 



Geaelta, CUT. Odoriferous pouches reduced to a slight depression 

 formed by the projection of the glands, and without any perceptible 

 excretion, although the odour is manifest The pupil has a vertical 

 lit, and the claws are entirely retractile, as in the Cats. 



(/'. vtUgarit, the Common Genet ( Virerra Gcnetta, Linn.), ig gray, 

 spotted with small black or brown patches, which are sometime* round 

 and sometimes oblong ; the tail, which U as long as the body, is ringed 

 with black and white, the black rings being to the number of nine or 

 eleven. There are white spots on the eyebrow, the cheek, and on 

 each side of the end of the nose. It is found from the south of 

 France to the Cape of Good Hope, and Cuvier says that it differs in 

 the me and number of the patches, the bands along the shoulder and 

 neck, the line* on the nape, &c. 



The Genet lows lowlands, particularly the banks of rivers and the 

 neighbourhood of spring*. In Constantinople it is domesticated, and 

 kept in the houses, where it is said to catch mice as well as a cat. 





Common Oeoet (Orntlla 



Paradonnu (F. Cuv.). Has the character generally of the Civet* 

 nd (J-neU. Tail capable of being rolled from above downwards 

 to iU base, but not prehensile. Toe* five, nearly palmated ; sole of 

 the foot tuberculous, applied throughout its surface to the ground ; 

 claw* semi-retractile. Kye* with the pupil slit longitudinally. No 

 pouch. 



Molars, ?=?=40. 

 6 6 



Dental Formula : Incinors, _ ; Canines, - 1 



P. lyjnu, the Paradoxure. It was confounded by Bufibn with the 

 Common Genet, a confusion which M. F. Cuvier dissipated; in form 

 and habit*, indeed, it does not differ much, nd the toes and claws 

 closely agree in number and retractility. The secretory pouch is 

 absent. The tail is very peculiar : as long as the body, and depressed, 

 not to say flattened, above and below ; the extreme or more distant 

 half is, when extended, turned over, so that the lower side is upper- 



most, and the animal can roll it np spirally from above, downwards 

 and from the extremity to the base. 





raradoxure (Paradorurui typut). (F. Cuvici.) 



Manguta, Olivier. [IcaxEUMOK.] 



M. Javanica, has the ear bearing considerable resemblance to that 

 of man. Pouch very extensive. Hair long on the body and tail, but 

 short on the head and extremities, rigid and glossy. Length, includ- 

 ing the tail, about 1\ feet. 



Rumphius gives a curious account of this species, which id the 

 Garangan of the natives, who greatly admire its agility. It attacks 

 and kills serpents with the greatest boldness ; and Kutnphius speaks 

 of its value in performing this service and its method of encountering 

 those reptiles. The Javanese nobles, he rays, pay a considerable price 

 for it, that they may amuse themselves with the sport of these fights. 

 When the two enemies are opposed to each other, the serpent 

 endeavours to twine round the quadruped and kill it. The latter 

 submits to this, but inflates itself to turgescence ; and when the 

 serpent enfolds it and advances its head to give the deadly bite, the 

 Mangouste contracts his body, slips out of the folds, seizes the serpent 

 by the neck and kills it. 





Ganngan (tlanyuito Jacanira). (IIortAcld.) 



Dr. HorsficM states that the Afanytufa Jaranira is found most 

 abundant in the large teak-forests, and that it is very expert in 

 burrowing in the ground in pursuit of rats. " It possesses," says our 

 tuthor in continuation, "great natural sagacity; and from the pecu- 

 liarities of its character, it willingly seeks the protection of man. It 

 is readily tamed, and in a domestic state it in docile and attached to 

 is master, whom it follows like a dog ; it is fond of caresses, and 

 frequently places itself erect on its hind legs, regarding everything 

 that passes with great attention. It is of a very restless disposition, 

 ind always carries its food to the most retired place in which it is 

 cept to consume it. It is very cleanly in its habits. It is exclusively 

 carnivorous, anil very destructive to poultry, employing great artifice 

 n the surprising of chickens. For this reason it is rarely found in a 

 domestic state among the natives, as one of their principal articles of 

 ood is the common fowl, and great quantities are reared in all the 

 villages. The Javanese also, like the Mohammedans in general, li.iv 

 a great partiality for cats, and they are unwilling in most cases to be 

 deprived of their society for the purpose of introducing the Garan- 

 ;an. It ban also been observed that its sanguinary character shows 

 tself occasionally in a manner that renders it dangerous in a family 

 as a domestic animal, and it indulges at intervals in fits of excessive 

 violence." 



