The Genet. 55 
the sake of this perfume, and fed with a kind of soup 
made of millet, or rice, with a little fish or flesh boiled 
with it in water. The civet is found in a large double 
glandular receptacle, situated at a little distance be- 
neath the tail. AVhen a sufficient time for the secretion 
has been allowed, one of these animals is put into a long 
wooden cage, so narrow that it cannot turn itself round. 
The cage being opened by a door behind, a small spoon 
is introduced through the orifice of the pouch, which is 
carefully scraped ; this is done twice or thrice a week, 
and the animal is said always to produce the most civet 
after being irritated. The Civet, although a native of 
the warmest climates, is yet found to live in temperate, 
and even cold countries, provided it be defended care- 
fully from the injuries of the air. In a wild state, the 
Civet lives entirely on birds and small quadrupeds ; and 
at any time a small quantity of salt is said to poison it. 
THE GENET. (Viverra Genetta.) 
This animal is about the size of a small cat. The skin 
is spotted and beautiful, of a reddish grey colour. The 
spots on the sides are round and distinct, those on the 
back almost close; its tail is long, and marked with 
seven or eight rings of black. From an orifice beneath 
its tail it yields a kind of perfume, which smells faintly 
of musk. This little animal is meek and gentle, except 
when provoked, and is easily domesticated. In Con- 
stantinople it strays from house to house like our cat, 
and keeps whatever house it is in perfectly free from 
mice and rats, which cannot endure its smell. It is 
found wild in various parts of the south of Europe, and 
also throughout the continent of Africa. Its fur i3 
