TIVEBRICULA. 



101 



Kasturi, a name properly belonging to the musk-deer, in parts of India. 

 Koiinri-ka-do, Burmese ; Wa-yoHiiy-kyouiKj-bijouk, .Vrakan. 



Tail tapering, about two thirds to three quarters the length of 

 the head and body. Ears short and rouuded. Tur harsh and 

 rather coarse. Teats G, ventral. Pupil vertical. 



In the skull the nasals are of moderate length, terminating 

 posteriorly in front of a vertical plane passing through the ante- 

 rior extremities of the orbits ; the occipital crest is greatly deve- 

 loped. Bony palate extending back some distance behind the 

 posterior molars. Mandible convex below. 



Colour. Brownish grey to pale yellowish brown, with usually 

 several longitudinal black or browii bands on the back and longi- 

 tudinal rows of spots on the sides. In some specimens both 

 lines and spots are indistinct, and the dorsal bands are occasion- 

 ally wanting ; but usually there are five or six distinct bands on 

 the back and four or five rows of spots on each side. Neck- 

 markings rather A^ariable ; genei^ally there are two dark stripes 

 from behind the ear to the shoulders, and often a third in front, 

 crossing the throat. A dusky mark behind each ear and one in 

 front of each eye. The head grey or brownish grey ; chin often 

 brown. Eeet brown or black. Tail with alternating black and 

 whitish rmgs, seven to nine of each colour. The underf ur brown or 

 grey (often grey on the upper parts of the body and brown on the 

 lower) ; coarser hairs with long grey, brown, or black terminations, 

 the grey hairs on the upper parts often tipped with black. 



Dimensions. Head and body 21 to 23 inches, tail (including the 

 hair at the end, which is about an inch long) 15 to 17, ear 1 to 1| 

 long outside, height about 9 ; weight 5 to 6 lbs. A male skuU 

 measures 3-75 inches in basal length, 1'75 in zygomatic breadth ; 

 another 4 by 1'8. 



Distribution. Throughout India, except in Sind, the Punjab, and 

 the western parts of Rajputana. A specimen was obtained by 

 Mr. Adam at Siimbhar. Also found in Ceylon, Assam, Burma, 

 Southern China, the Malay Peninsida, Java, and some of the other 

 Malay islands. This species likewise inhabits Socotra, the Comoro 

 Islands, and Madagascar, but has probably been introduced, having 

 been carried thither caged as a producer of civet. 



Habits. The small civet inhabits holes in the ground, or under 

 rocks, or thick bush, but appears not to have been observed in 

 forest, although it is said to climb well and to be distinctly arbo- 

 real in its habits. It comes near human habitations, and has been 

 met with taking refuge in drains and outhouses. It is frequently 

 kept in confinement, and becomes perfectly tame. Jerdon states 

 that he kept several, which caught rats, squirrels, and birds, and 

 he adds that this species is kept by natives for the purpose of 

 yielding civet. The food is varied, chiefly consisting of small 

 animals, vertebrate and invertebrate, but partly of fruits and roots. 

 Poultry are occasionally carried off by this civet. The female has 

 usually four or five young at a birth. 



