VIVERRA CIVETTA. 



THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS. 



VIVERRA. Three false molars above, four below, the ante- 

 rior of which sometimes fall out. Two pretty large tubercu- 

 lous teeth above, only one below. Tongue bristled with sharp 

 and rough papillae. Claws more or less retractile. They 

 often emit an agreeable perfume. 



THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



VIVFRRA CIVETTA. A deep pouch divided into two sacs, 

 filled with a pomade of a strong musky smell. Pupil of the 

 eye round during the day. Claws semi-retractile. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



VIVERRA CIVETTA, a genus of carnivorous, mammiferous 

 quadrupeds, natives of the torrid regions of the ancient conti- 

 nent, particularly distinguished by having a secretory appara- 

 tus which forms a powerful odorous matter, known by the 

 name of Civet. These animals have been called Musk Cats, 

 or Civet Cats, yet they are not of the cat species, which, how- 

 ever, they resemble in some zoological points, and in their 

 activity and their predatory, sanguinary, and nocturnal hab- 

 its. They somewhat resemble the fox, especially in the head, 

 and also in its habits ; but the tail is long, hairy, and cylindri- 

 cal, and the claws, though by no means so acute as those of 

 the cat, are still partially retractile, or cat-like. The resem- 

 blance of the Viverra to the feline race is increased by the 

 pupil of the eyes, which contracts in a straight line, and by 

 the color of the skin, which is diversified with stripes and 

 spots, a circumstance which has occasioned them to be mis- 

 taken for small panthers, by persons who had only seen them 

 at a distance. In every other respect, however, they differ 

 from the panther. 



The civet is from two to three feet in length, stands from 

 ten to twelve inches high, and has a tail half the length of 

 its body. The hair is long, and the ground color of it is a 

 brownish gray, interspersed with numerous transverse, inter- 

 rupted bands or irregular spots of black. Along the centre of 

 the back, from between the shoulders to the end of the tail, is 

 a kind of mane, which can be erected or depressed as the ani- 

 mal pleases, and which is formed of black hairs longer than 

 those uf the body. The sides of the neck and the upper lip 

 are nearly white. The tongue is studded with stout horny 



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