VERTEBRATA. 



Vertebrated Animals. 



No. 12. 

 VIVEERA CIVETTA. 



THE CIVET CAT. 



Zibethum. 



I he animal substance. A medicinal agent 



Civet. 



Geog. Position. Asia, Africa. 



Quality. Soft, odoriferous. 



Power. Stimulant, nervine, antispasmodic. 



Use. Principally as a perfume. 



SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. 



Natural Classification. 

 5. DIVISION Vertebrata. CLASS Mammalia. 



Wyatt, Nat. Hist. 39. Desmarett, Mammalogy, 205. U. S. Disp. 1315. Jones, 

 An King. 654. 



GENUS VIVERRA. 



Civette (Fr.), der Zibet (Ger.), Algalia (Sp.). 



THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS. 



Teeth, four thick and long canine. Six incisors in each jaw, 

 the root of the second of the lower ones being placed a 

 little more inwards than the others. The molars are en- 

 tirely trenchant, or have blunted tuberculous parts, but 

 never bristled with conical points. The anterior molars 

 are the most trenchant ; they are called false molars ; next 

 comes a molar larger than the others, and which has gen- 

 erally a tuberculous heel, more or less wide ; it is called 

 carnivorous; then follow one or two small teeth perfectly 

 flat, and denominated tuberculous. 



Carnivorous, more or less so in proportion to the quantity of 

 the tuberculous surfaces, the acuteness of the false molars, 

 and the length of the canine. 



Best adapted for biting, they which have the fewest false mo- 

 lars and shortest jaws. 



Courage not proportioned to their size and strength. 



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