The Genet. 55 



the sake of this perfume, and fed with a kind of soup 

 made of millet, or rice, with a little fish or flesh boiled 

 with it in water. The civet is found in a large double 

 glandular receptacle, situated at a little distance be- 

 neath the tail. When a sufficient time for the secretion 

 has been allowed, one of these animals is put into a long 

 wooden cage, so narrow that it cannot turn itself round. 

 The cage being opened by a door behind, a small spoon 

 is introduced through the orifice of the pouch, which is 

 carefully scraped ; this is done twice or thrice a week, 

 and the animal is said always to produce the most civet 

 after being irritated. The Civet, although a native of 

 the warmest climates, is yet found to live in temperate, 

 and even cold countries, provided it be defended care- 

 fully from the injuries of the air. In a wild state, the 

 Civet lives entirely on birds and small quadrupeds ; and 

 at any time a small quantity of salt is said to poison it. 



THE GENET. (Viverm Genetta.) 



THIS animal is about the size of a small cat. The skin 

 is spotted and beautiful, of a reddish grey colour. The 

 spots on the sides are round and distinct, those on the 

 back almost close; its tail is long, and marked with 

 seven or eight rings of black. From an orifice beneath 

 its tail it yields a kind of perfume, which smells faintly 

 of musk. This little animal is meek and gentle, except 

 when provoked, and is easily domesticated. In Con- 

 stantinople it strays from house to house like our cat, 

 and keeps whatever house it is in perfectly free from 

 mice and rats, which cannot endure its smell. It is 

 found wild in various parts of the south of Europe, and 

 also throughout the continent of Africa. Its fur is 



