218 A COURSE ON ZOOLOGY. 



All these animals are distinguished from other carniv- 

 ora by the arrangement of the claws, which are retrac- 

 tile, that is, capable of being thrown out and withdrawn. 

 These curved and hooked claws constitute formidable 

 weapons. 



The domestic cats are probably descended from the 

 wild-cat found in the forests of Europe. The wild-cat is 

 yellowish gray with dark stripes, which are longitudinal 

 on the back and transverse on the flanks. The domestic 

 cat presents extreme variations in color, and this lack 

 of uniformity in color is general in all animals that have 

 become domesticated ; only in the savage state does an 

 animal possess a fixed and characteristic color. 



FIG. 147. 



SPOTTED HYENA (Hysena crocuta). 



The civet represents a family of digitigrade carnivora 

 having long, thin bodies, pointed heads, and short legs. 

 The larger species are as large as foxes. The strong 

 perfume called civet is obtained from glands situated 

 near the anus of these animals. The ichneumon is 



