94 MAMMALIA. 



tem of the Dog and not that of the Hyena ; a long and thin form ; 

 the fur mottled, with white and fawn colour, grey and black; size of 

 the Wolf, large ears with black tips, &c. It is gregarious, and fre- 

 quently approaches Cape Town, devastating its environs. 



ViVERRA. 



The Civets have three false molars above and four below, the anterior 

 of which sometimes fall out ; two tolerably large tuberculous teeth above, 

 one only below, and two tubercles projecting forwards on the inner side 

 of the inferior carnivorous, the rest of that tooth being more or less tuber- 

 culous. The tongue is bristled with sharp and rough papillae. Their 

 claws are more or less raised as they walk, and near the anus is a pouch 

 more or less deep, where an unctuous and frequently an odorous matter 

 oozes from peculiar glands. They are divided into four subgenera. 



VivERRA, Cuv. 



In the true Civets the deep pouch situated between the anus and the 

 organ of generation, and divided into two sacs, is filled with an abundant 

 pommade of a strong musky odour, secreted by glands which surround the 

 pouch. This substance is an article of commerce, and is used by the per- 

 fumers. It was more employed when musk and ambergris were un- 

 known. The pupil of the eye remains round during the day, and their 

 claws are only semi-retractile. 



V. civetta,!..; Buff. IX, xxxiv. (The Civet). Ash-coloured, 

 irregularly barred and spotted with black; the tail less than the 

 body, black towards the end, with four or five rings near its base ; 

 two black bands encircling the throat, and one surrounding the face ; 

 a mane along the whole length of the spine and tail that bristles up 

 at the will of the animal. From the hottest parts of Africa. 



V. zibetha, L. ; BufF. IX. xxxi. (The Zibet). Ash-coloured, 

 spotted with black; black half-rings on the whole tail; black bands 

 on the sides of the neck ; no mane. From the East Indies. 



Genetta, Cuv. 

 In the Genets the pouch is reduced to a slight depression formed by 

 the projection of the glands, and has scarcely any visible excretion, al- 

 though an odour is diffused from it that is very perceptible. In the light 

 the pupil forms a vertical fissure, and the nails are completely retractile, 

 as in the Cat. 



V. genetta, L. (The Common Genet). Grey, spotted with brown 

 or black, the muzzle blackish ; white spots on the eye-brows, cheeks, 

 and each side of the end of the nose ; tail the length of the body, 

 annulated with black and white, the black rings being from nine to 

 eleven in number. Found from the south of France to the Cape of 

 Good Hope, differing in the size and number of the spots in the 

 bands along the shoulder and neck, as well as in the lines on the 

 nape of the neck, &c.*. It frequents the edges of brooks, near 

 springs, &c. The skin forms an important article of trade. 



* The best figure of a Genet is that given by Pennant, Synops. No. 172, Hist. 



