THE CIVET, OR MUSK CAT. 101 
essentially distinct, have been the result of the dismem- 
berment of this single group. 
The true Civets, to which the genus Viverra is now 
restricted, yield in the extent of their carnivorous pro- 
pensities to the cats alone, whom they approach very 
closely in many points of their zoological character, as 
well as in their predatory, sanguinary, and nocturnal 
habits. In addition to the six incisors and two canines, 
which are common to the whole of the true Carnivora, 
they have on each side and in each jaw six molars, one 
of which is peculiarly adapted for lacerating flesh, while 
the rest are more or less of the ordinary form. Their 
tongues are furnished with the same elevated and pointed 
papillz which give so remarkable an asperity to those of 
the cats; and their claws are half retractile. The toes are 
five in number on each of the feet, and their extremities 
alone are applied to the ground in walking; the animals 
are consequently completely digitigrade. But the most 
distinctive character of the group consists in an opening 
near the tail, leading into a double cavity of considerable 
size, furnished with glands and follicles for the secretion 
of the peculiar odoriferous substance so well known as 
the produce of the Civet, and from which the animal 
derives his name. 
The present species is from two to three feet in length, 
exclusive of the tail, which is nearly half as much more; 
and stands from ten to twelve inches high. His body, 
which is more elongated in its form than that of any of 
the animals hitherto described, is covered with long hair, 
the ground colour of which is of a brownish gray inter- 
mingled with numerous transverse interrupted bands or 
irregular spots of black. A series of longer hairs of the 
latter colour occupy the middle line of the back, from 
