SIC KATURALTST'S CABINET. 



Manners, &c. 



toward the nose; and its ears are large and some- 

 what pointed. The hair is soft, smooth, and 

 glossy; spotted with black, upon a ground 'mixed 

 with red and grey: the spots on the sides arre 

 round and distinct ; but towards the back they 

 unite, and form black stripes, which run longitu- 

 dinally from the neck backwards. Along the 

 ridge of the back there is also a kind of mane of 

 long black hair; and the tail is marked witli 

 rings, alternately black and white, its whole 

 length. The perfume, which smells faintly of 

 musk, issues from au orifice beneath the tail. 



The genet nearly resembles the marten in its 

 habits and disposition; but is said to be tamed 

 with much greater facility. Belon informs us, 

 that he has seen them, in the houses al Constan- 

 tinople, as tame as domestic cats, and that they 

 were permitted to run about, without any danger 

 of their doing mischief. " For this reason," says 

 Goldsmith, " they have been called the cats of 

 Constantinople; although they have little else in 

 common with that quadruped, except their skill 

 in discovering and destroying vermin. From 

 such, however, as have seen its uses at Constan- 

 tinople, I learn that it is one of the most beauti- 

 ful, cleanly, and industrious animals in the world; 

 and that it keeps whatever house it is in perfectly 

 free from rats and mice, which cannot endure its 

 smell. Add to this, its nature is 'mild and gen- 

 tle, its colour various and glossy, its fur valuable ; 

 and, upon the whole, it seems to be one of those 

 6 



