FOSSANE. 
In describing this aniinal, naturalists have 
certainly differed from each other; but, per- 
haps, not more than animals of one known 
species are very frequently seen to vary. 
Pennant says, that the specimen of the Fos- 
sane in the Leverian Museum, differed in so 
many respe6ls, that he found it necessary to 
give a full description of it. 
He accordingly describes it, as a weasel 
with a white spot on each side of the nose, 
and another beneath each eye ; the rest of the 
nose, cheeks, and throat, being black. The 
ears are very large, upright, rounded, thin, 
naked, and black; the forehead, sides, thighs, 
rump, and upper part of the legs, are cinere- 
ous; on the back are many long black hairs ^ 
and, on the shoulders, sides, and rump, are 
dispersed several black spots. The tail, which 
is black towards the end, and mixed with 
tawny near the base, is slightly annulated with 
black, and In length equal to the whole bod v. 
The feet are blackish, and the claws white. 
This animal, Pennant adds, is the size of the 
Genet, to which is bears a great resemblance. 
Buffon, 
