FLESH-EATING MAMMALS. 57 



which the first is shed at an early period, and a single pair of molars, 

 which are cat-like in form, the lower one having only a small pos- 

 terior ledge, as in the lynxes, and 

 no inner cusp. The nose and upper 

 lip have a median groove ; and the 

 feet are sub-plantigrade, the tarsus 

 and metatarsus being naked. The fossa 

 measures about five feet in total length, 

 and is nearly uniform sandy brown in 

 colour. 



Together with several allied genera, 

 the true civets (Fwerrtt) are character- 

 ised by the conical form of the auditory 

 bulla of the skull, in which the hinder 

 border is broad, truncated, and nob 

 everted, while in front it is narrow and Fi ^ I^7 FossA (C ryptoproctafvrox). 

 compressed, with the anterior chamber 



small. Usually there are highly odoriferous glands in front of the scrotum ; 

 and the curved claws are generally more or less retractile. In . . 

 form and number the teeth come very close to those of the * 

 dogs, there being always four pairs of premolars in each jaw. The blade of 

 the upper carnassial tooth differs from that of the cats in consisting of only 

 two lobes, and there is a well-developed tubercle on the inner side of the 

 same tooth ; while the lower carnassial is composed of an anterior cutting 

 blade, and a long posterior tuberculated heel. In shape, the upper molars 

 are triangular ; the first of the two being placed behind the carnassial tooth, 

 and not on its inner side. 



From the allied genera the true civets are distinguished by the folioing 

 characters. A vertical groove divides the middle of the upper lip : the rather 

 long tail is ringed dark and light ; the feefc are completely digitigrade, with 

 the tarsus and metatarsus fully haired ; and there are no tufts of hair on the 

 ears. The upper molar teeth are two in number on each side ; a black gorget 

 ornaments the throat ; an elongated crest of erectile hairs usually runs down 

 the back ; and the whole hair is loose and long. The rather short and blunt 

 claws can be only partially retracted ; and the pupil of the eye contracts to 

 a circular form. There are five species of civet, one of which (Viverra civetta) 

 is African, while the other four are Oriental. Four are of nearly equal size, 

 and may be compared in this respect to a large cat ; but the rasse (Viverra 

 malaccensis), which differs somewhat in the structure of the skull from the 

 four others, and is referred by many writers to a distinct genus, under the 

 name of Viverricula, is a much smaller animal. An inhabitant of India, 

 China, and the Malayan countries, it has been introduced into Madagascar. 

 All civets have comparatively short, stout, and rather compressed bodies, 

 with the limbs proportionately longer than in the allied genera. Their 

 coloration takes the form of black or blackish-brown streaks and blotches 

 on a greyish ground. Most of them are non-arboreal ; and all are strong- 

 smelling creatures, one of their secretions being used in perfumery. For the 

 purpose of collecting the perfume, tame civets are kept in cages by the 

 Malays, and their secretion periodically scraped from the pouch with a 

 wooden spoon. Daubenton's civet (Fossa daubentoni) of Madagascar closely 

 resembles the above-mentioned rasse in general characters, but differs from 

 all the species of Viverra in the presence of two small bare spots on the 



