THE CIVET FAMILY. 149 



The Common Genet (Genetta-vulgaris) is grey, spotted 

 with black or brown, and has a blackish muzzle. It has 

 white spots on the brows, cheeks, and on each side of the 

 end of the nose; the tail is the same length as the body 

 and annulated with black and white, the black and white 

 rings being from nine to eleven in number. It is the only 

 species of Genet now found in Europe, and its range is 

 from the south of France to the Cape of Good Hope. In 

 the different localities it varies in the size and the number 

 of the spots in the bands along the Shoulder and the neck, 

 as well as in the lines on the nape of the neck. It frequents 

 the edges of parks near springs. The skins of different 

 species of this animal are used more or less at all times 

 by furriers, but the fur generally sold under the name 

 of Genet is that of the European Black Cat, which in 

 Holland, Denmark and Holstein has a beautiful dense 

 brownish black pelage that is soft and durable, and espe- 

 cially suited for coat linings because the skins are very 

 pliable and light in weight. 



The Blotched Genet (Genetta-tigrina), is found only in 

 Africa, and is lighter in color than the Viverra-civetta, 

 and marked with blotches, instead of spots. The tail is 

 marked with six to nine dark or black rings ; and a white 

 mark on each side of the mouth is another distinguishing 

 feature of this animal. 



Those whose habitat is nearest the equator are darker 

 than those found in other parts of Africa, and they are 

 called Pardine Genets; but they are simply a variety of 

 the same species. 



The Fossane of Madagascar has its tail, flanks and 

 all above fawn color; the legs and all beneath being a 

 yellowish white; there are reddish brown spots, forming 

 four longitudinal bands, on the back; the tail is semi-an- 

 nulated with red and is only half the length of the body. 



The Paradoxure, also known as the Palm Cat of India, 

 is only found in west Africa. It is about twelve inches 

 long with a- tail two feet long. It has the teeth and most 

 of the characteristics of the Genet, with which it was for 

 a long time Confounded; it is however more stoutly 



