CIVET CAT. 141 



and covered with very long hairs ; the tip is sometimes 

 white, and sometimes black. 



It does not appear to have any pungent ejection like 

 the Skunk. 



The fur of the Civet Cat is of little value ; being at 

 one time sorted into the third quality Skunk skins. 

 The usual price is 6d. to 2s. 3d. per skin, according to 

 quality. This fur is chiefly used for coat-linings. 

 About 5,000 to 10,000 skins are imported annually. In 

 1891, 13,292 skins were sold. 



SOUTH AMEEICAN OK CHILIAN SKUNK. 

 Conepatus mapurito. 



The South American Skunk does not attain the size 

 of its North American cousin, nor does it seem to 

 possess the same pungent smell. 



It is a small animal, generally black with a white 

 stripe. Sometimes the whole of the back is white, 

 without any black central division, as in the North 

 American species. A few animals are quite black. 



The tail is very bushy, and is usually striped. 



This Skunk inhabits the whole of the South American 

 continent, Central America, Mexico, and the most 

 southern of the United States, such as Tennessee, 

 Kentucky, etc. 



The fur is coarse, and of comparatively little value ; 

 it varies from Id. to 2s. 6d. per skin. Only a few 

 thousand skins are imported annually. 



