Page:Charles Catton, Animals (1788).pdf/15



claed by Naturalits among the Weaels, on account of its long body, and proportionate short legs; and alo, becaue the claws are not ecured or covered with a heath when drawn in.

The hape of this animal is pleaant and agreeable; the colour a brownih grey, variegated on the body and legs, with darkih plotches; the noe harp, and black at the tip; the ears rather large and round; the tail nearly as long as the body; the length of which, from the noe to the rump, is about 28 inches, and the height about 12 inches;—is ubject to coniderable variations both in ize and colour, which in ome is cinnamon, triped almot like a Zebra.

With care, this animal will live in the more temperate climates, but mut be conidered as a native of the warmer ones; viz. the Eat-Indies, the Philippine Iles, Madagacar, and the Brails; where it produces wild in great abundance; inhabits the woods, feeds upon birds and poultry; in caes of neceity, eats roots and herbs; poees coniderable boldnes, and is not eaily tamed, or ever familiarized.

Of this animal great gain has been made from the perfume which it produces in a glandular pouch or bag, which prings under the anus, and hangs between the legs: this ecretion, rated as an article of commerce, has procured an attention to be given this animal, which, but for gain, it would never have experienced. Civet, as a perfume, ome years back, was in high etimation; many animals were kept, and fed with attentive hands, in order to increae and ecure this exudation of nature. In the upper external part of the pouch is an orifice, which opens into the bag where the Civet is depoited (in appearance like oft pomatum); and uch as are kept for profit, are confined in a long wooden box, little bigger than the animal, and the receptacle of the perfume is earched, or rather craped, with a patula or poon twice or thrice every week, and the produce carefully preerved; which yields a good profit.

The Dutch bring the greatet quantities of this valuable perfume to market, and theirs is generally eteemed the bet, and mot free from mixtures, which are added to increae the weight, but impoverih the drug. It till continues a coniderable object of traffic in parts of India, the Levant, and the Brails; of which latter place Mr. Buffon doubts the animal’s being a native. The fumes of the Civet, when irritated, produce a trong odour; and any place it rubs againt trongly partakes of the cent: the kins will long retain the valuable quality.