CIVET. 397 



sort of mane: the head is of a lengthened or 

 sharpish form ; with short rounded ears : the eyes 

 are of a bright sky-blue: the tip of the nose 

 black : the sides of the face, chin, breast, legs, 

 and feet, are black; the remainder of the face, 

 and part of the sides of the neck, are of a yellow- 

 ish-white , from each ear are three- black stripes, 

 terminating at the throat and shoulders : the tail 

 is generally black, but sometimes is marked with 

 pale or whitish spots on each side the base. It 

 is an animal of a wild disposition, and lives in the 

 usual manner of others of this genus, preying 

 on birds, the smaller quadrupeds, &c. It is re- 

 markable for the production of the drug called 

 civet (sometimes erroneously confounded with 

 musk). This substance is a secretion formed in 

 a large double glandular receptacle, situated at 

 some little distance beneath the tail, and which 

 the animal empties spontaneously. When the 

 Civet Cats are kept in a 'state of confinement (as 

 is usual with the perfumers at Amsterdam and 

 other places), they are placed, from time to time, 

 in strong wooden cages or receptacles, so con- 

 structed as to prevent the creature from turning 

 round and biting the person employed in col- 

 lecting the secreted substance: this operation is 

 said to be generally performed twice a week, and 

 is done by scraping out the civet with a small 

 spatula or spoon. This substance is of a yellow- 

 ish colour, and of the consistence of an unguent; 

 of an extremely strong and even unpleasant odour 

 when fresh, so as sometimes to cause giddiness 



