CIVET (Fr. ("fret I r, from MC:I:. fr.on Ar. :abed, Cl Vet . :mini), froth of water). A germs (Viverra I of carnivores of the Old-World family Vive•rida., connecting the cats Wit h the hyenas, and hav ing the body elongated in some of the species as much as in the weasel tribe; the head is also long and the muzzle sharp. The ears are short. broad, and rounded. The feet have five tot', and the claws are only scini-retractile. There is a more or less conspicuous erectile mane along the back, as in hyenas. Near the sexual organs, in both sexes, there is a large double pouch, in Which is secreted an odoriferous, fatty substance, called 'civet.' much used in compound ing perfumes. There are several species of civet. of which the best known is the common or Afri• tan civet ( l'ircrro ciretto) of northern Africa, front two to three feet long. brownish-gray, with numerous bla•k bands and spots. The eivet preys small quadrupeds, and reptiles, and is regarded as a benefactor along the Nile, uu twomitt of its appetite for erocodile's eggs. It is very commonly kept in confinement for the sake of its perfume, whieli is removed from the bag about twice a week by means of a small spatula, and is obtained most from the male, especially after he has 'wen irritated.
A dram is a large quantity to obtain at a time. After being cleaned of hairs. washed. and dried, civet is ready for the market, and is worth from $10 to $12 an ounce, if pure. About 20,000 ounces are imported into London annually, and this represents a large pa•t of the total product. The civets kept for the purpose of providing perfume are fed on ra• flesh ; the young partly on farinaceous food. 'rho principal source of supply of commercial civet is northern Africa, especially Abyssinia. Several other species of civet 4k.cl11' in southeastern Asia and the East Indies, all )andsioocly striped or spotted. The linsang and the binturong are most prominent among these.
The 'American eivet-eat' is the cacomistle Compare Icitxm•xtox; 311:xcoos.
Fossil remains of the genus Vi•erra have been found in those deposits of the Tertiary Era that lie above the Middle Eocene. They show no considerable variation from their mod ern descendants. The remains of other extinct allied genera front the Tertiary show* relations between the early members of the family Viverriihe and the hyenas. See VIVElt la D.E.