IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 67 



whole length. General colour dark grey ; a black band runs along the 

 middle of the back, corresponding to the crest. In some specimens the 

 sides of the body are marked with indistinct spots and " eyes." (In 

 none of the specimens that have lived in this garden have these spots 

 or " eyes " been observed.) Upper parts of the limbs distinctly barred ; 

 lower' parts of the same colour as the body. Front and sides of the 

 neck and chest white ; a broad, black band crosses the neck, forming 

 a collar ; the black band is so wide that the white parts before and 

 behind it appear really as two white bands crossing the neck. Ears 

 small ; tail ringed white with intervals of broad, black bands. An adult 

 animal measures, head and body, about 32 inches ; tail 18. Some are 

 much lighter in colour than others. 



Hab. —Bengal, Assam, Burmah, the Malayan peninsula, Siam and 

 Southern China. Common in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. 



Length of life in captivity. 



The longest period during which one of these animals has lived 

 in the collection has been nearly thirteen years. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — The specimens exhibited in the garden have all been 

 kept in the Kuch Behar House (see page 56). As these animals sleep 

 much during the day, a large wine box with one side open will be 

 much appreciated by them as a retiring place. A piece of hard 

 stone is useful for them to scratch their nails upon. 



Food. — They are almost omnivorous. Their food consists of about 

 half a dozen to eight plantains in the morning, and about a pound and 

 a half of beef, either raw or boiled, according to their individual taste 

 in the evening ; biscuit or bread is sometimes substituted for plantains. 

 Land and fresh- water snails, frogs, lizards, eggs and small birds are 

 equally acceptable to them. The specimen that lived for thirteen years 

 in thegarden was fonder of a vegetable than an animal diet, and ate 

 large quantities of bread and biscuits. 



Transport. — It may be treated like any of the cats mentioned 

 before. 



With regard to Breeding and treatment in sickness, there are no 

 observations to record, as none of them ever bred in the garden, nor is 

 there any experience of their illness and its treatment. 



Observations on the habits of a large Civet. 



The large civet, in captivity, is quiet and undemonstrative. 

 Although none have ever been found to become tame enough to respond 

 to friendly attentions, yet on the other hand they are never savage and 

 fierce, as some of the cats are found to be. They sleep much during 

 the day, becoming livelier at the hours of feeding and at night. Their 

 natural activity has often been noticed to be roused at the sight of a 

 sparrow or a lizard in or near the cage. They do not appear to be 

 quarrelsome, or mischievous, like the palm civets. The odour of these 

 animals is neither so strong nor so offensive as that of palm civets or 

 ratels. Large civets are, on the whole, very cleanly in their habits. 



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