HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 271 



The quantity of odorous humour depends much 

 on the quality of the nourishment and the appetite 

 of the animal, which always produces more in pro- 

 portion to the goodness of its food. Boiled flesh, 

 eggs, rice, small animals, birds, and particularly 

 fish, are the kinds of food the Civet mostly delights 

 in; and these ought to be varied, so as to excite its 

 appetite, and preserve its health. It requires very 

 little water; and, though it drinks seldom, it dis- 

 charges its urine frequently. It is somewhat re- 

 markable, that in this operation the male is not to 

 be distinguished from the female. From this cir- 

 cumstance, it has been supposed that this was the 

 Hyena of the ancients; and it is certain, that most 

 of the fables related concerning that monster, are 

 in a certain way applicable to the Civet. 



The ancients were \vell acquainted with the 

 pomatum of the Civet, and ascribed to it certain 

 powers of exciting love; for which purpose it still 

 constitutes one of the luxuries of the East. 



What has been fabulously related concerning the 

 uncertainty of sex in the Hyena, applies much 

 more strongly to the Civet ; for in the male nothing 

 appears externally but three apertures, so perfectly 

 similar to those of the female, that it is impossible 

 to distinguish the sex otherwise than by dissec- 

 tion. 



The perfume of this animal is so strong, that it 

 infects every part of its body : the hair and the skin 

 are so thoroughly penetrated with it, that they 

 retain it long after being taken from the body. If 

 a person be shut up in the same apartment, it is 

 almost insupportable; and when heated with rage, 

 it becomes still more pungent. 



The Civet is naturally savage, and somewhat 



