THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 
SOUTH AFRICA 
THE CIVET CAT 
(VY tverra civetta) 
Also known as the Lisisi of the Basutos ; Mpicamadhloti of 
Swazis (Kirby) 
Tue Civet is not at all well known in South Africa, 
for the reason that, although it is common in the 
tropical portion of Africa, it only extends as far 
south as Mashonaland and the eastern part of the 
Transvaal. It is a shy secretive animal like the 
mungoose, and is nocturnal, except in the wild se- 
cluded districts, where it occasionally may be met 
with on dull cloudy days, or late in the afternoon— 
usually about sunset. It haunts the bush-veld, 
wooded hillsides, and kloofs. On the least cause 
for alarm it creeps noiselessly into the under- 
growth and vanishes from view. It. is usually 
hunted by dogs from its bushy retreats, and is 
then easily captured or killed. 
VOL. II I I 
