ON INDIAN CIVETS. 477 



third J white, or fulvesceut-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 Dor- 

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



" The general resemblance of the two in the essential marks, pro- 

 portions, &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 ad pressed in this one, and that the third dark 

 pectoral zone is distinct from the dusky throat, instead of merely form- 

 ing horns to it, whence, reckoning the pale edging between the last two, 

 and that without or beyond all the dai'k marks, we have here the com- 

 plete series of eight pectoral zones, though a fastidious objector might 

 reject some of them as vague. They may be counted however, and 

 therefore 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 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 sometimes 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 iDrincipal and inferior, 

 alternate black and white pectoral zones, of which the former consti- 

 tutes 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) 8 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 September. 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 



