Part 40 (1/2)

It will readily take to water if hard pressed.”--_Jerdon_.

The drug civet is usually collected from the glands of this and other species, which are confined for the purpose in cages in which they can hardly turn round, and it is sc.r.a.ped from the pouch with a spoon.

Sometimes the animal rubs off the secretion on the walls and bars of its cage, which are then sc.r.a.ped; but the highest price is given for the pouch cut from the civet when killed. In the London Zoological Gardens the collection of the perfume, which is rubbed off against the walls of the cage, is a valued perquisite of the keeper. Cuvier says of a civet which was kept in captivity in Paris: ”Its musky odour was always perceptible, but stronger than usual when the animal was irritated; at such times little lumps of odoriferous matter fell from its pouch. These ma.s.ses were also produced when the animal was left to itself, but only at intervals of fifteen to twenty days.”

NO. 222. VIVERRA CIVETTINA.

_The Malabar Civet-Cat_ (_Jerdon's No. 120_).

HABITAT.--Throughout the Malabar coast, abundant in Travancore, and found occasionally in the uplands of Wynaad and Coorg.

DESCRIPTION.--Hair long, coa.r.s.e, and of a dusky or brownish-grey, and marked with interrupted transverse bands or spots in rows, two obliquely transverse black lines on the neck; the snout, throat, and neck are white; the tail tinged with black. From the shoulders along the back a mane or crest of lengthened hair.

SIZE.--Same as last species.

This species closely resembles the African civet--only that in the latter the mane begins on the occiput. Jerdon supposes that it may be found in Ceylon, but it is not mentioned by Kellaart. It is found chiefly in forests and richly-wooded lowlands, and is stated to be very destructive to poultry. The young may, however, be reared on farinaceous food, with the addition of a little fish and raw meat; when older on flesh alone.

NO. 223. VIVERRA MEGASPILA.

NATIVE NAME.--_Khyoung-myen_.

HABITAT.--Burmah, also Malayan peninsula and archipelago (?)

[Ill.u.s.tration: _VIVERRA MEGASPILA_.]

DESCRIPTION.--The body markings larger, blacker and fewer in number than in last species.

SIZE.--Same as last.

Blyth states that this is nearly allied to the last species, but differs from _V. tangalunga_ of Sumatra (with which some consider it synonymous) as the latter is smaller, with a more cat-like tail, and more numerous spots. Gray says that _V. tangalunga_ has the tail black above and ringed on the lower side.

The next species is smaller and more vermiform, with acute compressed claws, a shorter tail, and no crest, and of more scansorial habits.

It forms the sub-genus _Viverricula_ of Hodgson, but it is not desirable to perpetuate the sub-division.

NO. 224. VIVERRA MALACCENSIS.

_The Lesser Civet-Cat_ (_Jerdon's No. 121_).

NATIVE NAMES.--_Mushak-billi_, _Katas_, _Kasturi_, Hindi; _Gando-gaula_, _Gandha-gokul_, Bengali; _Jowadi-manjur_, Mahrathi; _Punagin-bek_, Canarese; _Punagu-pilli_, Telegu; _Sayer_, _Bug-nyul_, Nepalese; _Wa-young-kyoung-bank_, Aracanese; _Kyoung-ka-do_, Burmese; _Ooralawa_, Singhalese.

HABITAT.--India generally, with a.s.sam, Burmah, and Ceylon. It extends also to the Malayan countries, Java and China.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Viverra Malaccensis_.]

DESCRIPTION.--General colour greyish-brown, spotted black; the dorsal spots elongated, and forming longitudinal interrupted streaks or stripes on the back and croup; the sides and limbs have also spots in lines; a long black streak from ear to shoulder, and some transverse lines on the sides of the neck. Abdomen nearly spotless; feet and part of legs dusky-brown; tail long and tapering, marked with eight or nine black rings.

SIZE.--Head and body, 22 to 24 inches; tail, 16 to 17 inches.

According to Jerdon, ”it lives in holes in the ground or in banks, occasionally under rocks or in dense thickets, now and then taking shelter in drains and out-houses.” Hodgson says: ”These animals dwell in forests or detached woods and copses, whence they wander freely into the open country by day (occasionally at least) as well as by night. They are solitary and single wanderers, even the pair seldom being seen together, and they feed promiscuously upon small animals, birds' eggs, snakes, frogs, insects, besides some fruits or roots. In the Terai a low caste of woodmen, called Mushahirs, eat the flesh.” Mr. Swinhoe affirms that the Chinese also eat its flesh, and adds: ”but a portion that I had cooked was so affected with the civet odour that I could not palate it.” The fur is valued in China as a lining for coats, and is bought by those who cannot afford the more expensive skins. Jerdon had one which was perfectly tame; it caught rats and squirrels at times, as also sparrows and other birds.

It is kept alive by the natives in India and Ceylon for the sake of the secretion. Kellaart says it is a great destroyer of poultry, and that it will enter a yard in daylight and carry off a fowl or a duck.