194 THE ARCTIC FOX. 



Captain Sir John Ross records the circumstance of the burrow 

 of an Arctic fox having been discovered on the margin of a 

 lake at Boothia, in July 1831. It had several passages all 

 leading to one common chamber, beyond which was another 

 chamber containing six young ones. In the outer apartment 

 and passages were several lemmings, ermines, and the bones 

 of hares, fish, and ducks. Four of the cubs were kept alive, 

 and became very tame. 





CIVETS. 



The civets inhabit Africa, and have the head long j the muzzle 

 pointed j the nostrils placed on the side of the nose; the tongue 

 bristled with sharp and rough papillae ; the pupil of the eye 

 round during the day time, but capable of contracting almost 

 into a line ; the feet with five toes ; the claws partly retractile, 

 and more or less raised in walking. Beneath the tail is a pouch 

 divided into two sacs, where an unctuous and odorous matter 

 is secreted, from two peculiar glands which surround the pouch. 

 When fresh this matter is white, but after some time it becomes 

 yellow, and acquires a very agreeable odour. Chemical analysis 

 has shown that the odour depends on a volatile oil mixed with 

 some other ingredients, from which it may be separated by 

 distillation in water ; and the oil when thus isolated is of a 

 clear yellow colour, has the strong smell of civet, together with 

 an acid and burning taste. 



In their carnivorous propensities they are only surpassed by 

 the cat-tribe, whom they very closely resemble in many points 

 of their zoological character, and in their predatory, sanguinary, 

 and nocturnal habits. 



