Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/224

182 and Mongoose to the rare Eupleres of Madagascar; but few are more interesting than the beautiful Pardine Genet, with its elegant, almost Deer-like head set on a graceful neck, its handsome coat, spotted boldly in Leopard fashion, and its long tapering tail—these outward attractions being enhanced by the marvellous quickness and lithe serpentine grace of its movements as it runs like a streak of lightning across the floor of its cage, or leaps from one place to another with the agility of a Cat. My Genet was an adult male, very quiet, and indeed afraid of being hurt; he allowed himself to be stroked, and would feed from the hand when he had barely been six weeks in England. On one occasion he escaped from his cage, to which he was only restored after three-quarters of an hour's interval; even then, though thoroughly frightened, he made no attempt to bite. Perhaps the Genets, like the Giraffe, are silent animals; the one I had, at any rate, never emitted any sound whatever. He slept all day coiled up in his travelling box, at night becoming very lively, bounding to and fro in a curious manner behind the bars of the cage as if performing some set task. Genets are, if possible, even more active than Cats, therefore it is cruel to imprison them in little cages, as is only too often done; six feet is the minimum length for a cage to accommodate so agile a creature. These animals may be fed on fowls' heads, mice, or fish. In these days a chattering Monkey or a screeching Parrot seems to be the popular ideal of a zoological treasure; but to anyone wishing for a new, interesting, intelligent, and quiet pet, pleasing in its ways, and readily becoming tame, I cordially recommend the Pardine Genet.

Galidictis vittata (Grison).—The Grison is a rare animal in captivity, and I do not remember ever having seen it in any of the continental zoos; indeed, the two which arrived in England recently are the only ones I have known to be offered for sale of late years—one of these, a fine healthy specimen, is now in my own collection. The coloration of the Grison is most remarkable, grey above and dark brown below; it resembles, in fact, a small Honey Ratel (Mellivora), and has something of the Badger in its gait, while the webbed feet recall those of the Otter. The Grison is one of the "cutest" and most "wideawake" of wild animals; every action expresses alert intelligence and fearless self-reliance.