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10
02
2009
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Civet Cat |
In Asia and Africa alike there are several kinds of rather small, longtailed, spotted or striped, cat-like animals called civets, or civet cats. They are quite short legged and long bodied and their general body color is grayish brown.
The civet possesses glands which secrete a very strong, sweetish scent and many years ago it was hunted for the sake of this scent, which was used in the making of perfume. Actually it is not a very pleasant smell – as anyone can testify who has entered a small mammal house in a zoo on a warm summer day and stopped in front of the civet cage – but it has a peculiar, lasting quality that makes it very valuable in perfumery. Naturally, this scent is changed and disguised in the perfume; it is used only as a base or foundation for other scents.
In general the civet is a shy and solitary animal, hiding in the forests, bushes or thick grass during the day and coming out in more open country only at night. The natives are not very fond of it because of its habit of killing poultry, but in the wild it feeds on birds and small animals, snakes, frogs, insects, eggs and even fruits.
Where ever the civet goes, it leaves a trail of it scent behind and there are many stories of hunting dogs chasing other game but branching off and starting to chase the civet when they run across the track.
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