50 On the Civet of the continent of India. 



where the iron grey has a bluish cast, sometimes overlaid 

 with dull fawn, especially on the buttocks. In our present 

 subject little or none of the latter hue can be traced. 



In all our specimens the fur consists of wool and hair, 

 constituting a thick warm covering, but liable to vary with 

 the seasons and health of the animals. The wool is copious 

 and wavily curled: the hair straight, and a third longer, 

 moderately adpressed, and neither harsh nor soft. In the 

 present animal the hair is \ to f inch long : the wool one 

 inch. On the tail the wool and hair are both present, nor is 

 either longer than on the body: the face and limbs are 

 dressed in fine close glossy hair only: the colour of the 

 wool (in all specimens) purpurescent, dusky: two-thirds of 

 hair and more, towards the base, the same: the terminal 

 third \ white, or fulvescent-white, and \ (the outer) black. 

 Some hairs wholly dark, and hence results the iron grey hue 

 of the animal, the generally sordid tinge of the white even 

 on the belly, being caused by the interior dusky colour of 

 the wool and hair throughout. The Dorjiling specimen is 

 of the same size as the above, and also a male. 



The general resemblance of the two in the essential 

 marks, proportions, &c. is perfect, including the scantiness 

 of the mane ; nor will the nicest scrutiny serve to detect any 

 differences, save that the fur is rather shorter and more 

 adpressed in this one, and that the third dark pectoral zone 

 is distinct from the dusky throat, instead of merely forming 

 horns to it, whence, reckoning the pale edging between 

 the last two; and that without or beyond all the dark 

 marks, we have here the complete series of eight pectoral 

 zones, though a fastidious objector might reject some of 

 them as vague. They may be counted however, and there- 

 fore are noted, lest their omission should hereafter mislead. 

 The line of these zones is in general black and white 

 respectively ; but the latter colour is more or less sordid ; 

 and the dark inferior surface of the head (here included) is 



