THE GENET. 



F. genetta. Linn&us. 



PLATE XXX. THE GENET. 



This animal is rather less than the martin ; though there 

 are genets of different sizes, and I, have seen one rather 

 larger. It also differs somewhat in the form of its body. 

 It is not easy in words to give an idea of the distinction. It 

 resembles all those of the weasel kind, in its length, com- 

 pared to its height ; it resembles them in having a soft, 

 beautiful fur, in having its feet armed with claws that can- 

 not be sheathed, and in its appetite for petty carnage. But 

 then it differs from them in having the nose much smaller 

 and longer, rather resembling that of a fox than a weasel. 

 The tail, also, instead of being bushy, tapers to a point, 

 and is much longer ; its ears are larger, and its paws 

 smaller. As to its colours and figure in general, the genet 

 is spotted with black, upon a ground mixed with red and 

 gray. It has two sorts of hair, the one shorter and softer, 

 the other longer and stronger, but not above half an inch 

 long on any part of its body except the tail. Its spots are 

 distinct and separate upon the sides, but unite towards the 

 back, and form black stripes, which run longitudinally 

 from the neck backwards. It has also along the back a 

 kind of mane or longish hair, which forms a black streak 

 from the head to the tail, which last is marked with rings, 

 alternately black and white, its whole length. 



The genet, like all the rest of the weasel kind, has 

 glands that separate a kind of perfume, resembling civet, 

 but which soon flies off. 



It resembles the martin very much in its habits and 

 disposition ; except that it seems tamed much more easily. 



