GENET. 401 



line running along the back, where the hair is 

 rather longer than on the other parts, and forms 

 the appearance of a very slight mane : along the 

 sides of the body run several rows of roundish 

 black spots, which sometimes incline a little to 

 a squarish form : the muzzle is dusky ; beneath 

 each eye is a white spot : the cheeks, sides of the 

 neck, and the limbs, are spotted jn a proportion- 

 ally smaller pattern than the body, and the tail is 

 annulated with black. 



The Genet is an animal of a mild disposition, 

 and easily tamed. In various parts of the east, 

 as well as at Constantinople, it is domesticated 

 like the Cat, and is said to be equal, or superior, 

 to that animal in clearing houses from rats and 

 mice. It is a cleanly animal, and has a slight 

 musky smell. It is a native of the western parts 

 of Asia, but is said likewise to occur in Spain, and 

 even occasionally in some parts of France. 



VAR. r 



The French variety, however, according to the 

 description and figure of the Count de Buffon, is 

 far less elegantly and distinctly spotted than the 

 Oriental Genet, and, indeed, Mr. Pennant, in his 

 History of Quadrupeds, considers it as a distinct 

 species, under the name of Pilosello. According 

 to Mr. Pennant, the Pilosello is smaller than a 

 Ferret, and is found about the rock of Gibraltar, 

 and some parts of Spain and France. Its prevail- 

 ing tinge is rust-colour, with rather irregular 



