FOSSANE. 
BufFon, in describing the Fossane, observes 
that it is called by some travellers the Genet 
of Madagascar, on account of it*s resem- 
blance to that animal, in the colour of it's 
hair, and some other affinities. But, says 
BufFon, it is, in general, much smaller; and 
proves, to us, that it is not of the same kind,- 
by it's want of an odoriferous bag, the essen- 
tial attribute of the Genet. To ascertain this 
fadl, the Count De Buffon, who had been una- 
ble to procure one of these animals for dissec- 
tion, wrote a letter to Monsieur De Poivre, 
on the sub]e6l: in answer to which, he re- 
ceived the skin of a stuffed Fossane, with the 
following information. 
" The Fossane which I brought from Ma- 
dagascar, is an animal much resembling, in it's 
manners, those of our pole-cat. The inhabit, 
tants of the island assured me that, when the 
male Fossane is in heat^ he emits a very strong 
smell like that of musk. When I skinned 
one of these animals, which was in the royal 
garden, I did not discover any bag, nor did I 
find any odoriferous smell. I reared two of 
these animals, w hich were both males. I had 
theni 
