THE CIVET. 71 



The Tiger Wolf is celebrated for the strauge unearthly sounds which 

 it utters when under the influence of strong excitement. The animal 

 is often called the " Laughing Hysena " on account of the maniacal, 

 mirthless, hysterical laugh which it pours forth, accompanying this 

 horrid sound with the most absurd gestures of body and limbs. During 

 the time that the creature is engaged in uttering these wild, fearful peals 

 of laughter, it dances about in a state of ludicrously frantic excitement, 

 running backward and forward, rising on its hind legs, and rapidly 

 gyrating on those members, nodding its head repeatedly to the ground, 

 and, in fine, performing the most singular antics with wonderful 

 rapidity. 



CIVETS. 



The Civet, sometimes, but wrongly, called the Civet Cat, is a native 

 of Northern Africa, and is found plentifully in Abyssinia, where it is 

 eagerly sought on account of the peculiarly scented substance which 

 is secreted in certain glandular pouches. This Civet perfume was 

 formerly considered as a most valuable medicine, and could only be 

 obtained at a very high price ; but in the present day it has nearly 

 gone out of fashion as a drug, and 

 holds its place in commerce more 

 as a simple perfume than as a 

 costly panacea. 



The substance which is so prized 

 on account of its odoriferous qual- 

 ities is secreted in a double pouch, 

 which exists under the abdomen. The Ciyi:t {Viverra Oivetta). 



close to the insertion of the tail. As this curious production is of 

 some value in commerce, the anin)al which furnishes the precious 

 secretion is too valuable to be killed for the sake of its scent-pouch, 

 and is kept in a state of captivity, so as to afford a continual supply 

 of the odoriferous material. 



The claws of the Civet are only partially retractile. The eyes are of 

 a dull brown, very protuberant, and with a curiously changeable pupil, 

 which by day exhibits a rather broad linear pupil, and glows at night 

 with a brilliant emerald refulgence. The body is curiously shaped, 

 being considerably flattened on the sides, as if the animal had been 

 pressed between two boards. 



Altogether, the Civet is a very handsome animal, the bold dashing 

 of black and white upon its fur having a very rich effect. The face 

 has a curious appearance, owing to the white fur which fringes the 

 lips, and the long pure white whisker hairs of the lips and eyes. 

 When young it is almost wholly black, with the exception of the 

 white whisker hairs and the white fur of the lips. 



