THE COMMON GENET. 199 



tinople as tame as cats -, and that they were permitted to run 

 everywhere about, and without doing any mischief : hence 

 they have been called the Cats of Constantinople, although they 

 have little else in common with that animal, except their 

 expertness in perceiving and destroying rats, mice, and other 

 vermin. These domesticated genets are said to be not only 

 gentle and mild, but very cleanly. 



The glossy fur of the genet forms an important and valuable 

 article of commerce. 



THE EGYPTIAN MANGOUSTE. 



(Herpestes Pharaonis, Illig.} Viverra P., Linn. 5 Mangusta P., Cuv.) 

 Ichneumon. PharoaJis Rat.* 



The Egyptian mangouste is about the size of a domestic cat, 

 but rather longer in the body. Its far is rough, and has a pale 

 reddish grey cast, owing to each hair being marked with alter- 

 nate rings of grey and mouse-colour. The muzzle is long, 

 slender, pointed, and black ; the ears are almost naked, very 

 small, and rounded 5 the eyes bright red j the legs short 5 the 

 feet small and black , the claws very sharp ; and the tail is as 

 long as the body, very thick at the root, and thence gradually 

 tapering to a point, which is furnished with a small black tuft. 



* So called by the Europeans at Cairo. Goldsmith erroneously states tha.fc 

 they call it Pharoah's cat. 



