CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 



179 



THE GENET. 



animal. Its disposition is meek and gentle, except when irritated ; in many places it is kept 

 instead of a cat, to destroy vermin. In Constantinople it goes from house to house, clearing 

 them of rats and mice. It has a pouch beneath the tail, which emits a faint smell of musk. 

 The popular opinion is, that the rats and mice are so disgusted with this scent that they imme- 

 diately abandon a house when a genet comes into it. It is not strange that an animal which 

 delights in eating and killing these pests, should be in bad odor with them. The fur of the 

 genet is fine, thick, and soft ; and, on account of its beautiful markings, is greatly prized. 



The Rasse, G. Indica, resembles the zibets, and has been classed with them by some writers. 

 Dr. Horsfield says : 



" It supplies in Java the place which the civet holds in Africa, and the zibet on the Asiatic 

 continent and in the large islands of the Indian Archipelago. I have endeavored to show that, 

 by its form and marks, it is essentially distinct from the V. zibetha ; and it differs as much in 

 its natural disposition as in external characters. The zibet is an animal comparatively of a mild 

 disposition ; it is often found among the Arabs and Malays who inhabit the maritime parts of 

 Borneo, Macassar, and other islands, in a state of partial domestication ; and, by the account of 

 the natives, becomes reconciled to its confinement, and in habits and degree of tameness resembles 

 the common domestic cat. The rasse, on the contrary, preserves in confinement the natural 

 ferocity of its disposition, undiminished. As the perfume which it yields is greatly valued by the 

 natives, it is frequently kept in cages ; but, as far as I have observed, it must always be obtained 

 for this purpose from a wild state, as it does not propagate in confinement. 



" The rasse is not unfrequently found in Java, in forests of a moderate elevation above the 

 level of the ocean. Here it preys on small birds and animals of every description. It possesses 

 the sanguinary appetite of animals of this family, in a high degree, and the structure of its teeth 

 corresponds strictly with its habits and modes of life. In confinement, it will devour a mixed 

 diet, and is fed on eggs, fish, flesh, and rice. Salt is reported by the natives to be a poison to 

 it. The odoriferous substance is collected periodically : the animal is placed in a narrow cage, 

 in which the head and anterior extremities are confined ; the posterior parts are then easily 

 secured, while the civet is removed by a simple spatula." 



The substance obtained from the rasse agrees with the civet afforded by the civet and zibet 

 in color, consistence, and odor. It is a very favorite perfume among the Javanese, and is applied 

 both to their dresses and, by means of various unguents and mixtures of flowers, to their 

 persons. Even the apartments and the furniture of the natives of rank are generally scented 

 with it to such a degree as to be offensive to Europeans; and at their feasts and public 

 processions the air is widely filled with this odor. 



The Fossak, Viverra Fossa of Linnaeus, is of a fawn-color, marked with irregular brown spots. 

 The tail is faintly annulated with black ; the body is long and slender, and the legs are longer 

 and the tail shorter than those of the other genets. When irritated, it emit? a strong, musky 



