CIVET. 421 



Guinea and the central parts of Africa, but can live in temperate and even in cold 

 climates, and has been acclimatized in Holland, where the inhabitants carry on a con- 

 siderable trade in its perfume. 



-^:"S 

 FIG. 465. -Civiir. 



The Ichneumon, or Pharaoh's Rat ( r/Vwj Ichneumon}, is distinguished by 

 its large eyes, with pupils elongated transversely. It is larger than our domestic cat, 

 but slender like the weasel, and of a greyish colour. This animal is the famous Ich- 

 neumon worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, probably on account of the service it 

 renders by destroying great numbers of the eggs of the crocodile ; it lives, however, 

 upon all sorts of small animals, and is kept in houses for the purpose of killing mice 

 and other unwelcome intruders. 



The last group of Digitigrade Carnivora is distinguished by 

 having no small teeth whatever behind the lacerators in the 

 lower jaw. In this group are found the most cruel, the most 

 carnivorous, and, on account of their strength, the most formid- 

 able of the tribe. They have been separated into two genera, 

 the Hyaenas and the Cats. 



The Hyaenas (ffycrna) are distinguishable from the cats by having only 

 four toes, both on their front and hind feet, by their claws, which are not re- 

 tractile, and by the position of their teeth, which are so powerful that they 

 can crack the shin-bone of an ox. Their coat is rough, not thick, but com- 

 posed of long hairs that form a mane down the middle of the back. Their 

 gait is singular : they step out in front, and always seem to drag the hind 

 legs after them. These animals are nocturnal in their habits; they live in 

 caverns and old ruins. They are exceedingly voracious, and feed more 

 especially on dead carcases. 



The Cats (Felis) are the most formidably armed of all the Mammals. 

 Their body is lithe and agile, their spine very flexible, the limbs muscular, 



