NATURAL HISTORY. 



47 



GENETTA. (Fr. Genette.) 



Vulgaris (Lat. common), the Genet. 



The GENET slightly resembles the cat, particularly in its 

 spots, and the power of climbing trees. It inhabits Africa, 

 and is not unfrequently found in the south of France. At 

 Constantinople it is domesticated, and keeps the houses free 

 from rats and mice, which are said to be unable to endure its 

 scent, but it is much more probable that it frees the houses 

 from mice by devouring them. 



HERPESTES. (Gr. ^p7T7/crr/}f, a creeper.) 



Ichneumon (Gr. 



, a tracker), the Egyptian Ichneumon, 



The ICHNEUMONS, or MANGOUSTS, well deserve their name 

 of Creepers, for with their long bodies and snouts, their short 

 limbs and slender tails, they insinuate themselves into every 

 crevice in their way in search of their expected food. Few 

 animals are more useful than the Ichneumons. Snakes, 

 lizards, crocodiles' eggs, or even young crocodiles themselves, 



