476 ON INDIAN CIVETS. 



the shoulders, and then suddenly turn down to gird the front of the 

 neck, which they entirely embrace, and which from the superior breadth 

 of the inner dark zone is rather black than white. Within (that is 

 nearer to the head) this large dark zone is a semblance of a third dark 

 one, which however rather resembles horns put off towards the ears from 

 the dark inferior surface of the head than a separate pectoral zone. Out- 

 side the external dark zone there are traces of a pale edging or band ; 

 and if we include this faint line (clear enough on the abdominal aspect) 

 as well as reckon separately the last named, also counting the dark line 

 of the head below, we have a succession of eight pale and dark spaces. 

 But the more prominent are only four, whereof the outer dark one is 

 somewhat broken on the shoulder, it descends nearly at right angles, 

 whilst the inner one is quite entire, more accurately curved, and so 

 broad below or on the abdominal aspect of the neck that that aspect 

 must be called black rather than white. Above, or dorsally, the neck 

 has no mark, at least none distinct, though the vague tracing of the 

 dorsal mane which only becomes distinct at the withers, may here be 

 seen. This mane is by no means strong or conspicuous, and it ceases 

 wholly at the base of the tail after somewhat breaking the first pale 

 caudal ring. It is accompanied by a white edging on either side, and 

 these colours thus pass into that member, or the tail, which somewhat 

 exceeds half the length of the animal, and is gradually attenuated from 

 a thick base. 



" Whatever other changes our larger Viverra are liable to, the caudal 

 rings hold anunvarying character, and in this species they are uniformly 

 six in number, pale upon a black ground, with a gradually increasing 

 interval towards the tip, and, though wider below than above, yet upon 

 the whole far smaller than their dark interstices. One and a half to two 

 inches of the dark ground colour occupy the tip of the tail before the 

 nearest pale ring is reached. It has already been noticed that the dorsal 

 mane breaks the first ring towards the base of the tail. The body of 

 the animal is almost wholly immaculate, and even on the shoulders, and 

 tibise the wavy bands we expect to meet can hardly be traced. In other 

 mature specimens these lines may be seen here and there only, not on 

 the flanks or body of the animal 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 § 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 



