THE STORY OF THE CIVET . 
313 
is often found to have taken up its residence in the thick thatched roofs of 
native houses. I found a large colony of them established in the rafters of 
my own house at Calcutta. It is also occasionally found in dry drains, out¬ 
houses and other places of shelter. It issues forth at dark, living by prefer- 
AN AFRICAN CIVET. 
ence on animal food, rats, lizards, small birds, poultry, and eggs; but it also 
freely partakes of vegetable food, fruit, and insects. In confinement it will 
also eat plantains, boiled rice, bread-and-milk, etc. It is very fond of cock¬ 
roaches. Now and then it will commit depredations on some poultry-yard* 
