CIVETS. 



451 



The civets are further characterised by their long and flattened bodies ; narrow 

 and elongated heads ; short limbs; small and I'ounded feet, each furnished with five 

 toes, of which the claws are partially retractile : and the hairy soles of the feet 

 (exclusive of the pads). With the exception of one species, the back has a crest of 

 long hairs, which can be erected at will ; the neck is marked by a black gorget ; 

 and the tail, which is of considerable length, is variegated by alternate dark and 

 light rings. The whole of the fur is long and rough-looking, and thus presents a 

 marked contrast to the sleek pelage of most of the cats. The civets all walk on the 

 very tips of their toes. In addition to the above, all these animals are characterised 

 by the great development of certain glands situated in the abdomen which secrete 

 the well-known perfume which gives the name to the group. There are altogether 



THE CIVET (J uat size). 



six species of true civets, of which five are Asiatic while one is African ; one of the 

 Asiatic species being smaller than all the others, from which it also differs by the 

 absence of the crest of erectile hairs on the back. From this and other structural 

 differences, this small civet is frequency referred to a distinct genus. Like the 

 majoritj' of the famih', the true civets are nocturnal, and to a great extent solitary 

 animals ; and apparently some of them cannot climb. They are commonly known 

 as civet-cats. 



The African civet ( Viverra civetta), which is one of the larger 

 members of the genus, inhabits the ti-opical portions of Africa ; and is 

 of a brownish-grey ground colour, marked with interrupted dark streaks, or blotches, 

 over the whole body. The tail is dark-coloured, with the rings very indistinct in 

 the terminal portion. Little is recorded of its habits in the wild state ; but these 

 are probably similar to those of the next species. This civet, together with other 

 species belonging to the same genus, and likewise some of other genera, is kept in 



