THE CIVET CAT. 



general, is coarfe ; that on the top of the body particularly fo, and, longer 

 than the reft, Handing up like a mane : the tail varies in colour, being 

 fometimes all black, and fometimes fpotted near the bafe. The whole body 

 is covered with two kinds of hair, one of which is fhort, foft, and of a woolly 

 contexture, and a greyifh brown colour; the other is much longer, and 

 barred or varied with white, black, and reddiih brown, which occations the 

 beautiful fpotted and banded appearance fo remarkable in this animal. The 

 general colour of the female is paler than that of the male, and the Ipots are 

 larger. Three black flripes, proceeding from each ear and ending at the 

 throat and moulders, add greatly to its beauty. The mouth is adorned with 

 whifkers. 



The teeth of the Civet are marp and ftrong, though its claws are weak. 

 It is active and nimble, jumping like a Cat, and running very fwiftly. It 

 feeds on. fmall animals and birds, which it takes by furprife ; and will 

 fometimes commit depredations on the poultry in the farmyard. As its 

 eyes mine in the dark, it is probable that it fees well by night, particularly 

 as that is the time when it is mofl active. 



The Civet inhabits India, the Philippine Ifles, Guinea, ^Ethiopia, and 

 Madagafcar; where it is very prolific, but is never known to breed in more 

 temperate regions, although it will live in them, and appear in perfect health, 

 producing its perfume in great abundance. The Dutch know this, and keep 

 numbers of them alive at Amlierdam, on purpofe to collect the civet they 

 produce ; the quantity of which always bears proportion to the quality 

 of the nourishment the animal takes, and the appetite with which it eats it. 

 Its favourite food conlhts of boiled nefh, rice, eggs, birds, fmall animals, and 

 efpecially fifth ; and, in order to preferve it in a good Hate of health, its 

 appetite mould be excited by variety. Though it drinks feldom, it difcharges 

 its urine frequently. 



The civet which is procured at Amfterdam is lefs adulterated, and 

 therefore held in higher eitimation, than that which comes from India or the 

 Levant. To facilitate the collecting this perfume, the animal is put into a 

 long cage, fo narrow that it cannot turn itfelf : the cage being opened by a 



