158 



MAMMALIA — GENET...ICHNEUMON. 



THE GENETi 



Is an animal smaller than the civets. It has a long body, short legs, a sharp 

 snout, and a slender head. Its fur, which is exceedingly smooth and soft, 

 is of an ash color, glossy, and marked with black stripes, which are separate 

 upon the sides, but which unite upon the back. It has, also, upon the neck, 

 a kind of mane, or longish hair, which forms a black streak, from the head 

 to the tail, which last is as long as the body, and is marked with seven or 

 eight rings, from the insertion to the tip, which are alternately black and 

 white. 



The genet has under the tail, and in the very same place with the civets, 

 an opening, or pouch, in which is separated a kind of perfume resembling 

 civet, but less strong, and apt sooner to evaporate. It is an animal some- 

 what larger than the marten, which it strongly resembles, not only in the 

 form of the body, but also in disposition and habit, and from which it seems 

 chiefly to differ in being more easily tamed. It is a native of Spain, Africa, 

 and the south of Asia. 



THE ICHNEUMON,^ 



From the lip of the nose to the end of the tail, is from twenty-four to forty- 

 two inches in length ; nearly half of which is occupied by the tail. At the 

 base, the tail is very thick ; it tapers gradually towards the point, which is 



I » V. Genetta, Lin. 



2 Herpestes Pharaonis. The genus Herpestes has six upper and six lower incisors ; 

 two upper and two lower canines ; ten upper and ten lower molars. Body elongated ; 

 anal pouch large ; feet pentadactyle, semi-palmated, with nails partly retractile. 



