CHAPTER III 
THE FOSSA, CIVETS, AND ICHNEUMONS 
THE FOSSA 
Photo by A. 8, Rudiand & Sons 
FOSSA 
The only feline animal of Madagascar 
N the Fossa Madagascar 
possesses an altogether 
peculiar animal. Itisa 
very slender, active creature, 
with all its proportions much 
elongated. It is of a bright 
bay uniform colour, with thick 
fur, and has sharp retractile 
claws. It has been described 
as the natural connecting link 
between the Civets and the 
Cats, anatomically speaking. 
Thus it has. retractile claws, 
but does not walk on its toes, 
like cats, but on the soles of 
its feet (the hind pair of which 
is quite naked), like a civet. 
Very few have been brought 
to captivity; indeed, the first time that one was exhibited in the Zoological Gardens was only 
ten years ago. 
Formerly stories were told of its ferocity, which was compared to that of the 
tiger. These tales were naturally the subject of ridicule. The fossa usually attains a length of 
about 5 feet from snout to tail, and is the largest of the carnivora of Madagascar. A fine young’ 
specimen lately brought to London, and in the Zoological Gardens at the time of writing, is now 
probably full grown. It is about the same 
length and height as a large ocelot, but witha 
far longer tail, and is more slenderly built. The 
extreme activity of the fossa no doubt renders 
it a very formidable foe to other and weaker 
creatures. It has been described by a recent 
writer as being entirely nocturnal, and preying 
mainly on the lemurs and birds which haunt 
the forests of Madagascar. The animal kept at 
the Zoological Gardens has become fairly tame. 
It is fed mainly on chickens’ heads and other 
refuse from poulterers’ shops. Apparently it 
has no voice of any kind. It neither growls, 
roars, nor mews, though, when irritated or 
frightened, it gives a kind of hiss like a cat. 
Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S,) 
(North Finchley 
LARGE INDIAN CIVET 
Civets are nocturnal in their habits, That shown here has juss 
awakened in broad daylight 
