153 ORDER V. 



mons. With a simple and voluminous pouch, 

 pierced within the vent ; hair ringed alternately 

 with light and dark colours. Teeth , -^, f-f =? 

 36. They are low on the legs, toes 5-5, semipal- 

 mated ; reside ahout the borders of rivers and lakes ; 

 swim well ; do not climb. The most remarkable 

 among them, on account of the misstatements of 

 the ancients, is the 



Herp. pharaonis. The Egyptian Ichneumon, 

 Nems and Got Pharaoon of the Arabs, measures 

 above three feet in length, with the tail included ; 

 brown-grey, with coarse hair, and a long vertical 

 bush of black hairs at tip of tail ; keen, mistrustful, 

 yet easily tamed : was once adored by the ancient 

 Egyptians on account of its enmity to crocodiles, of 

 which animal it is probable the Nems has the faculty 

 of discovering the deposits of eggs, and devouring 

 them. Modern Egyptians likewise assert, that they 

 attack serpents. But it is remarked, that the spe- 

 cies abounds in lower Egypt, where no crocodiles 

 now exist, and is scarce in the upper country where 

 these reptiles are numerous. Eats, and domestic 

 poultry, have most to fear from them. 



Herp. major, H. Urinatrix. The Great Ich- 

 neumon. Somewhat larger than the last; nearly 

 the same colours. 



Herp. griseus. The Grey Nems. Likewise 

 from Egypt : somewhat smaller ; paler grey. 



Herp. fusca. Black and yellow annulated fur ; 

 throat yellowish-brown ; tail very hairy ; total length 

 35 inches. Native of India. 



