100 ViVERRiD^. MAMMALIA. ViVEimiDiE. 
pentadactylous feet, armed with acute semi-retractile 
claws. A solitary glandular pouch exists in the anal 
region. The general aspect of the fur is tawny grey, 
prettily marked with dark-brown or blackish spots, in 
addition to which there are eight dark-coloured parallel 
bands passing from the shoulders to the posterior 
extremity of the rumj), four of them being situated on 
either side, and immediately below the central line of 
the back. The dark spots above mentioned have also 
a tendency to arrange themselves in linear series. 
The tail is striped with sixteen circular alternating 
bands of a black and whitish-gre}' colour. The Easse 
“ preys on small birds and animals of every descrip- 
tion. It possesses the sanguinary appetite of animals 
of this family in a high degree, and the structure 
of the teeth strictly corresponds with its habits. In 
confinement it will devour a mixed diet, and is fed 
on eggs, fish, flesh, and rice. Salt is reported by the 
natives to be a poison to it.” The odoriferous secretion 
from the anal glands is termed decUs by the Javanese 
and jibet by the Malays, and Dr. Horsfield further 
informs us that it is quite a “favourite perfume among 
the Javanese, and applied both to their dresses, and, 
by means of various unguents and mixtures of flowers, 
to their persons. Even the apartments and the furni- 
ture of natives of rank are generally scented with it to 
such a degree as to be offensive to Europeans, and at 
their feasts and public processions the air is widely 
filled with this odour.” 
THE TANGGALUNG {Viverra zihetha) is a very 
widely distributed species throughout the more south- 
ern portions of the great Asiatic continent, extending 
from Arabia on the west to the coast of Malabar 
on the east, and also occupying Sumatra, Java, 
Borneo, and other islands of the Indian archipelago. 
The term Tanggalung is of Malayan origin ; but this 
species is also called the Indian civet, and by the 
native Hindoos is known by the name of the Kutauss. 
It is a comparatively strong and bulky species, having 
a short thick neck and somewhat rounded head. Tlie 
ears are very much wider apart than obtains in the 
Basse, leaving an interspace of about two inches 
width. The tail is cylindrical, nearly uniform in 
thickness, and shorter than the body ; it is somewhat 
indistinctly striped with alternating black and light- 
brown rings. The fur has a light-brownish ashy-grey 
colour, being marked with small black spots arranged 
in a transversely undulating manner. The throat and 
lower parts of the belly are whitish. Dr. Horsfield 
says that this animal has a comparatively mild dis- 
position ; but his remarks evidently apply to it when 
in a semi-domesticated condition. Captain Thomas 
Williamson’s account of the wild Indian civet affords 
a clearer estimate of its naturally ferocious character. 
“This animal,” he says, “is perhaps the most obnoxious 
of all the wild tribes known in India. It is seldom, if 
ever, seen on a plain, except at night, when it leaves 
its haunt in quest of prey. The Kutauss is remarkably 
bold, sparing nothing which it can overcome, and 
frequently killing, as it were, merely for sport. Its 
principal devastations are among sheep and swine, from 
which it purloins the young, and commits dreadful 
havoc among poultry. To the rapacity of the wolf it 
joins the agilit}' of the cat and the cunning of the fox.” 
The same excellent observer tells us that it “ is gene- 
rally found in short underwood covers, mixed more or 
less with long grass, and especially where the palmyra 
or cocoa tree is to be seen. Although it is sometimes 
met with in various detached jungles, yet, for the most 
part, its residence is confined to such as border old 
tanks or jeels. The banks being formed by the 
excavation, are often very high and broad ; with time 
they settle and become flatter, and are generally overrun 
with very strong brambles, through which even an 
elephant could not make his way without extreme 
difficulty. Of such covers the Kutauss is a regular 
inhabitant, seldom stirring in the day, during which 
time he appears to hide himself in the most opaque 
recesses.” The Kutauss ascends trees with facility, 
and when chased by hunters makes a very powerful 
resistance. The odour which it emits is similar to that 
of the Easse, and, like the jibet, is duly extolled by 
the natives as a delightful perfume. It is, however, 
highly offensive to Europeans, and Captain Williams 
states that the hunters’ dogs in Bengal become per- 
fectly sick with the stench ; nevertheless there is no 
animal which they will so readily attack, and after 
they have worried a Kutauss nothing will induce them 
to pursue any other kind of game — until at least the 
smell of the beast has entirely quitted their nostrils. 
Kutausses only frequent the neighbourhood of such 
villages as are inhabited by Mussulmans, simply be- 
cause no poultry can be stolen from those populated 
by Hindoos, whose religion forbids the rearing of 
chickens and fowls. Unclean animals all ! 
THE AFRICAN CIVET {Viverra civetta)—VMe 9, 
fig. 31 — is the species most commonly known, and it 
is from this animal that the unctuous brown substance 
termed “civet” is chiefly procured. The fatty matter 
in question is obtained from the two anal glandular 
pouches, so frequently alluded to in other viverrine 
genera. In the fresh state its odour is extremely dis- 
agreeable ; but when very copiously diluted and mixed 
with other perfumes — the energy of which it appears 
to have the power of augmenting — the combination is 
considered pleasant. The Civet is most abundant in 
North Africa ; but it is also found on the coast of 
Guinea and at other parts of the continent as far south 
as the Mozambique. In the domesticated condition 
this animal exhibits a veiy capricious temper ; but 
large numbers of Civets are kept for the sake of 
procuring the oily perfume. We are told that the 
unfortunate captives have their dignity insulted about 
twice a week. Thus, the tails being raised, and the 
hinder parts fixed to the bars of their cages in situ, a 
sort of iron scoop is unceremoniously introduced into 
the before-mentioned pouches, and the glands are 
relieved of their odoriferous contents. The African civet 
is larger than the Tanggalung, the body being nearly 
three feet long, not including the tail, which measures 
about eighteen inches. The fur has a light brownish- 
grey colour, with spots and bands of a darker brown or 
blackish tint. The hairs along the central line of the 
back and neck are sufficiently elongated to form a 
kind of mane, which can be raised or depressed at will. 
The hairs of the tail are also long, and being whitish 
