398 ZIBET. 



and headach; but becomes more agreeable by 

 keeping * : the quantity obtained each time 

 amounts to about a dram. 



Civet, though an article in the more ancient 

 materia medica, and though still employed by the 

 oriental physicians, is with us chiefly used in per- 

 fumes. It has a very fragrant smell, and a sub- 

 acrid taste : it unites readily with oils, both ex- 

 pressed and distilled ; in watery or spirituous men- 

 strua it does not dissolve, but impregnates the 

 fluids strongly with its odour. It may, however, 

 be made to unite with, or be soluble in water, 

 by means of rubbing with mucilages. 



ZIBET. 



Viverra Zibetha. V. cauda annulata, dorso anereo nigroque - 



datim striato. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 89. 

 Ash-grey W. with black undulations and annulated tail. 

 Felis Zibethi. Gesti. Quadr. 837. 



Animal Zibethi, vel Hyaena veterum Bellonii. Aldr. dig. 343. 

 Zibet. Buff. 9. p. 299. pi. 31. 



THIS, which was figured as a variety by Gesner, 

 and more precisely discriminated by Buffon, seems 

 to be considered by modern naturalists as a dis- 

 tinct species ; Mr. Pennant, however, even in his 

 last edition, still regards it as the same with the 







* This is denied by the French academicians of the last cen- 

 tury, who say, that after keeping it a year it seemed to smell ex- 

 actly as at first. 



