On the Civet of the continent of India. 51 



decidedly not black but dusky, or sooty brown, like the 

 limbs. All these things are however so in the first specimen 

 also, from which this therefore is only differenced by the 

 clear and striking Civet-like marks occupying the body of the 

 present subject. These marks are oblique on the shoulders 

 and hams, and have there usually a straight lined character, 

 whereas on the body they are vertical and wavy, presenting 

 the exact appearance of a succession of waves advancing from 

 the rear to the front, and often passing, as real waves will do, 

 nearly into open circles or eyes, especially towards the dorsal 

 ridge and mane. This may possibly be a distinct species 

 or variety. I have noted it as the latter, with the trivial 

 name of Undulatus. In this marking it is nearly allied to 

 Civetta. 



My other specimens are mostly of the unmarked kind, 

 and juniors : the rusty hue is clear on the hams, and some- 

 times passes on to the tail near them. The tibiae are barred, 

 and the shoulders or brachia likewise, but the flanks and 

 body are immaculate : six narrow perfect white rings on a 

 black tail, and four principal, or six to eight principal 

 and inferior, alternate black and white pectoral zones, of 

 which the former constitutes the ground hue, distinguish all 

 alike. 



In May (27th) 1836, I procured four young ones of one 

 of these species or varieties, but of which I know not, for 

 the mother escaped. The young were about a span or six 

 inches long, and could not have been born a week, yet their 

 eyes were open, and all their organization (save the teeth) 

 perfect ; they had the pectoral and caudal marks, especially 

 the latter palpably developed, but the dorsal dark line could 

 hardly be distinguished owing to the generally darker hue 

 of the little creatures, none of which lived beyond Septem- 

 ber. They were found on the bare ground, under thick 

 copse wood, and their mother with them. On the 26th July 

 they were two spans, or twelve inches, long, or double the 



