388 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



the Civets. It is, like them, only a semi-carnivorous ani- 

 mal. If it can be fed with meat, it can also be supported 

 on bread, milk, fyc, without any intermixture of animal 

 substances. 



The Genets have two tuberculous molars in the upper 

 jaw, and one in the lower, together with three carnivorous 

 teeth, which are very thick, and are themselves tuberculous.' 

 There are also three false molars in the upper jaw and 

 three in the lower. 



The Genet's organs of motion are also similar to those 

 of the Civet. They have five toes on each foot. That which 

 we may call the thumb has but two phalanges, the others 

 have three. The three middle toes are the longest. The 

 middle one is the longest of all ; next comes the little toe, 

 and the thumb is the shortest. They are armed with slen- 

 der and semi-retractile claws, which are very sharp, and 

 well adapted for climbing. The walk of this animal is di- 

 gitigrade, and the tail is semi-pendulous and susceptible of 

 voluntary motion, but not adapted for seizing or involving 

 objects. 



On each side of the organs of generation are two glands 

 raher thick and projecting, which are joined together at 

 their upper part, that is at the side of the anus, by a strip 

 of skin which covers them, and give to these parts the ap- 

 pearance of a pouch, though in reality they do not form 

 one. These glands produce a thick matter, and of an odour 

 approaching to that of musk. This forms an additional 

 relation between the Genet and Civet. 



The Genet is a nocturnal animal, and the pupil resembles 

 that of the Domestic Cat. There is no other peculiarity in 

 the organ of vision. The nostrils open at the extremity of 

 the muzzle. The lips are susceptible of very limited move- 

 ments. The tongue is covered with horny papillae. The 

 external ears are large, elliptical, and provided with a small 

 lobule. Their aperture is very large. 



