GENETCIVET. 201 



discoveries; but all the recesses of the immense abyss 

 will never be explored: man will never be able to 

 comprehend the whole plan of infinite wisdom. 



THE GENET 



is one of those odoriferous animals which emits a per- 

 fume faintly resembling that of musk.. It is somewhat 

 longer than the martin, with a long and slender head, 

 a sharp muzzle, and ears a little pointed. Its hair is 

 soft, smooth -and shining, of a tawney red, spotted 

 with black. Along the back it has a mane of long 

 hair, which forms a black line from the head to the 

 tail. The spots on the sides are round and distinct, 

 those on the back nearly run together : its tail is long, 

 and marked with seven or eight rings of black. On 

 the whole it is a beautiful, cleanly creature; and al- 

 though active and persevering in pursuing its prey, is 

 of a mild and ^emse disposition. Its colours are 

 agreeably variegated, and its fur is held in great esti- 

 mation. The genus dots not appear to btfj extensively 

 diffused, being seldom seen any where except in Tur-' 

 key 'and Spain. At Constantinople they have genets 

 in their houses, which are as tame as cats, and eifec- 

 tualiy expel rats, mice, and ail other noxious vermin. 



THE CIVET 



produces a perfume of much stronger quality than 

 that of the genet, and -affords a far greater quantity : - 

 in size it is also superior to that animal. This is in- 

 deed the largest of all the weazel kind. Its teeth are 

 strong and sharp, but its 'claws somewhat weak. It is 

 active and nimble, leaps like a cat, and lives in the 

 same manner, and on the same kinds of food as the 

 weazel : like that, and most other carnivorous animals, v 

 it hunts -its prey chiefly in frhe dark. It is naturally 

 wild, and somewhat ferocious, but when tamed be- 

 comes tolerably tractable. 



The civet is originally a native of warm countries, 

 but lives and thrives tolerably well in temperate, and 

 even in cold climates, if it be well protected from the' 

 weather; and in Holland many are kept for the sake 

 o their perfume, which is contained in a pouch near 

 K 5 



