CIVET-CATS. 
39 
every inequality o£ the o-round to steal close up to a spot whence 
it can suddenly spring upon the unsuspecting victim. It is 
referred to a genus by itself, under the name of Cyncdiirus 
jahatus ( 44 - 7 ). 
In case 18 is placed a cast of the skull of the great extinct 
South American Sabre-toothed Tiger [Machcerodus neogwus)^ as 
representing a group formerly widely spread over the globe, and 
remarkable for the great development of their huge upper canine 
teeth. 
The second family of the Carnivora is the Vii’erridce, consisting [Case 20.J 
of the Chvet-Cats and allies. These are all comparatively small 
animals, of low build and dull coloration, with long hairy tails ; 
they are entirely confined to Africa and Southern Asia, with the 
exception of two species which are found in South-western 
Europe. They are in all respects less highly specialized for 
carnivorous habits than the Cats, their teeth being more 
numerous and far weaker than those of the latter. The following- 
are the most noteworth}^ groups : — Cryptoprocta. containing but 
one species, the Foussa, C. ferox ( 454 )^ peculiar to Madagascar, 
and the largest Carnivore of that Island. This animal is remark- 
able for its (!*at-like head, retractile claws, and other feline 
characters ; it is quite untamable, and excessively savage when 
•caught or wounded. The Civet-Cats, Vwerra (463 to 465 ), of 
which there are four species, one African and three Indian, have 
hairy soles and partially retractile claw-s; these animals produce 
in a pouch beneath the tail the scent known as civet, which is 
obtained by the natives from individuals kept in captivity for the 
purpose. The Genets, Genetta (458 & 459 ), of which there are 
several African species, are smaller than, but very similar to, 
the last ; one of them, the Common Genet, G, vulgaris, or 
G. genetta, extends into Europe as far as Central France. 
The beautiful Oriental animals known as Linsangs, Linsanga or 
Prionodon ( 478 ), with their West African relative Poiana ( 477 ), 
.find a place here. The Palm-Civets, (471 to 476 ), 
are long-bodied, short-limbed animals, with short ears, long, 
powerful, hairy tails, naked soles, and semi-retractile claws, 
common in India and the Malay Archipelago. They are 
■arboreal in their habits, and feed either on rats, lizards, small 
