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died brown; the head, eyes, and ears resemble a large rat, their 
food consists of birds, mice and reptiles, for which they insidi- 
ously watch, and seize with wonderful eagerness; 1 kept one for 
some lime in a wooden cage, but the smell at length became so 
insufferable, that I gave him liberty; for, however the perfume may 
be esteemed, the odour of the animal is always disagreeable. The 
civet, or musk, is formed in a glandular receptacle under the 
tail, from whence it is squeezed out by little at a time, twice or 
thrice a week; it is then an offensive unguent like thick greasy 
milk, but afterwards changes to a hard brown substance. A full 
grown cat always yields more of this perfume when first caught, 
than after it has been any time confined. 
The eastern districts of Travencore, intersected by lakes and 
rivers, abound with amphibious animals, especially alligators and 
seals. There seems to be no essential difference between the alli- 
gator of India, and the Egyptian crocodile; lacerta alligator, 
and lacerlus crocodilus. Naturalists seem to confine the alligator to 
South America, the crocodile to Asia and Africa; but in India 
the lacerta crocodilus, generally called the alligator, is from five 
to twenty feet long, shaped like the genus to which he belongs: 
the back is covered with impenetrable scales; the legs short, with 
five spreading toes on the fore-feet, and four in a straight line on the 
hinder, armed with claws: the alligator moves slowly, its whole 
formation being calculated for strength, the back-bone firmly 
jointed, and the tail a most formidable weapon: in the river he 
eagerly springs on the wretch unfortunately bathing within his reach, 
and either knocks him down with his tail, or opens a wide mouth 
for his destruction, armed with numerous sharp teeth of various 
