NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



The food of the Civet Cat consists of small 

 animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. 



Man cannot tolerate this cat in his neighbour- 

 hood, for it takes every opportunity of destroying 

 and devouring his poultry, often killing a dozen in 

 a single night, like its bloodthirsty cousins the 

 muishonds, weasels, and wild cats. 



The Civet Cat is particularly interesting for the 

 reason that it is the animal which supplies the sub- 

 stance known as " civet," which is secreted by two 

 glands situated at the base of, and under, the tail. 

 This substance is the well-known civet which was 

 formerly in great demand as a perfume. It is, 

 however, not used at the present time to any con- 

 siderable extent in Europe. 



In the tropical parts of Africa the natives 

 capture these Civet Cats and confine them in cages, 

 or tie them up by passing a ring through the nose. 

 At regular intervals the perfume-secreting glands 

 are emptied of their contents. This is subsequently 

 bartered to Arab and other traders. 



The African Civet Cat is a little over four feet 

 in length from the nose to the tip of the tail. The 

 body is flattened at the sides ; the limbs are short, 

 and the feet small and rounded. General colour 

 of the hair brownish-grey, covered with dark streaks 

 and blotches, which on the front parts of the body 

 tend to form transverse lines. The ears are broad, 

 short, and rounded, black at the bases, and white at 

 the tips. Along the back from between the ears to the 



