CiVETo' 
353 
transports of bis rage,, at having sought after these 
bees in vain, be gnaws and bites the trunks of the 
trees ■ and these bites are sure marks for the inha- 
bitants of the country that a bees* nest is to be 
found there. “ I should myself/’ says Dr. Spars*- 
man., have entertained many doubts concerning 
these properties attributed to the ratel, had I not 
obtained various accounts of this curious animal, 
exactly corresponding with each other/ from many 
experienced farmers and Hottentots, living in dif- 
ferent parts of the Cape of Good Hope/* 
Civet. 
The civet is somewhat more than two feet long* 
and has a tail about half the length of its body. 
The ground colour is yellowish ash grey, beautik. 
fully marked with large blackish or dusky spots. 
The hair is coarse * and along the back stands 
up, so as to form a sort of mane. The body is 
thickish ; and the nose sharp, and black at the tip. 
Three black stripes proceed from each ear, and 
end at the throat and shoulders. The eyes shin 
in the dark. It is dn inhabitant of several parts 
of Africa and India ; and will not breed in more 
temperate regions, though it lives and appears in 
perfect health in them; in its own climate it is 
very prolific. 
It is active and nimble ,; jumping about like a 
cat, and running very swiftly. It feeds on small 
animals ; but particularly on birds, which it takes 
by surprise; and it sometimes commits depreda- 
tions among poultry, when it can steal unperceived 
into a farm-yard. It is very voracious ; and will 
often roll itself, for d minute or two, on its meat* 
before eating. One that Barbot had at Guada«* 
loupe, was, from the carelessness of the servant, 
kept without food for a whole day ; the animal* 
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