136 THE ICHNEUMON. 



the side of a rivulet to its hole, which was at some distance. As 

 some marks were observed in the snow, for which it was not 

 easy to account, curiosity suggested the expedient of examining 

 the hole, when eleven fine eels were found, which had been the 

 fruits of its nocturnal excursions to the rivulet; and the marks 

 in the snow, which had appeared so singular, were then discov- 

 ered to have been made by the writhings of the eels in the ani- 

 mal's mouth, while it was dragging them to its den. It would be 

 a curious subject of investigation, to enquire by what means this 

 crafty animal can obtain a booty, the seizure of which appears 

 so difficult. 



Although the smell of this quadruped is in the highest degree 

 fetid and disagreeable, yet the skin is used as other furs, and 

 retains no offensive odour. It is, however, far inferior in value 

 to the fur of the sable, the ermine, and other natives of the 

 northern regions. The skins sell from eighteen pence to half a 

 crown a-piece. 



THE ICHNEUMON 



Is an animal which has long attracted the attention of natu- 

 ralists, and given rise to a number of absurd and ridiculous sto- 

 ries. It has from time immemorial been domesticated in Egypt ; 

 where, for its services in destroying the eggs of the crocodile, 

 as well as its young, it was, like several other beneficial animals, 

 worshipped as an emanation of the Deity. From the estimation 

 in which it was held in that country, it has obtained the appella- 

 tion of the rat of Pharaoh. 



The ichneumon is about the size of a cat, and in Egypt is do- 

 mesticated like that animal, and kept for the same purposes of 

 destroying rats and mice. In shape, it nearly resembles the fou- 

 mart, or pole-cat: its fur displays a mixture of tints, white, brown, 

 fawn colour, and silver grey. The domestic is larger than the 

 wild kind, and its colours are more variegated : its eyes are small 

 and sparkling : its claws are long. When it goes to sleep, it rolls 

 itself up like a ball, and sleeps very sound. It frequently sits up 

 like a squirrel, catches any thing that is thrown to it, and will 

 often lie as if dead, until its prey come within its reach. 



This remarkable animal possesses all the strength and agility 

 of the cat, with a greater propensity to carnage. It attacks the 

 most deadly serpents, and preys on every noxious reptile; it 

 darts with the velocity of an arrow on its object, and seizes it 

 with inevitable certainty. To the crocodile it is a formidable 

 enemy, as it destroys the eggs of that dreadful reptile, and often 

 kills great numbers of the young immediately after their pro- 

 duction. 



M. de Obsonville tells us of an ichneumon which he had 



