282 IIISTORV OF 



sizes, and I have seen one rather larger. It also differs some> 

 what in the form of its body, it is not easy in words to give 

 an idea of the distinction. It resembles all those of the weasel 

 kind in its length, compared to its height ; it resembles them in 

 having a soft beautiful fur, in having its feet armed with claws 

 that cannot be sheathed, and in its appetite for petty carnage. 

 But then it differs from them in having the nose much smaller 

 and longer, rather resembling that of a fox than a weasel. The 

 tail, also, instead of being bushy, tapers to a point, and is much 

 longer, its ears are larger, and its paws smaller. As to its co- 

 lours and figure in general, the genet is spotted with black, upon 

 a ground mixed with red and gray. It has two sorts of hair, the 

 one shorter and softer, the other longer and stronger, but not 

 above half an inch long on any part of its body except the tail. 

 Its spots are distinct and separate upon the sides, but unite to- 

 wards the back, and form black stripes, which run longitudinal- 

 ly from the neck backwards. It has also along the back a kind 

 of mane or longish hair, which forms a black streak from the 

 head to the tail, vi'hich last is marked with rings, alternately 

 black and white its whole length. 



The genet, like all the rest of the weasel kinds, has glands, 

 that separate a kind of perfume, resembling civet, but which soon 

 flies off. These glands open differently from those of other 

 smimals of this kind; for as the latter have their aperture just 

 at the opening of the anus, these have their aperture immediately 

 under it ; so that the male seems, for this reason, to the super 

 licial observer, to be of two sexes. 



It resembles the martin very much in its habits and disposi- 

 tion ;' except that it seems tamed much more easily. Belonius 

 assures us, that he has seen them in the houses at Constantino- 

 ple as tame as cats ; and that they were permitted to run every 

 where about, without doing the least mischief. For this reason 

 they have been called the cats of Constantinople ; although they 

 have little else in common with that animal, except their skill in 

 spying out and destroying vermin. Naturalists pretend that it 

 inhabits only the moister grounds, and chiefly resides along the 

 banks of rivers, having never been found in mountains, nor dry 

 places. The species is not much diffused; it is not to be 

 found in any pait of Europe, except Spain and Turkey ; it re- 

 1 Bufluu, vol. xix. p. 187. 



