THE ICHNEUMON*. 



tacked by a. dog, it fastens upon his nose with so keen 

 a bite, as often to compel him to desist; and when 

 unable to conquer, will at least defend itself to the 

 last extremity. 



In regard to this animal's mode of procuring sub- 

 sistence, a curious circumstance was once observed : 



During a severe storm, a foumart was traced in the 

 snow from 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, curi- 

 osity suggested the expedient of examining the hole, 

 where eleven fine eels were found, which had beeii 

 the fruits of its nocturnal excursions to the rivulet ; 

 and the marks in the snow which had appeared so sin- 

 gular, were then discovered to have been made by 

 the writhings of the eels in the animal's mouth while 

 it was dragging them to its den. It would be a curi-i 

 ous 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 fcetid and disagreeable, yet the skin ii 

 used as other furs, and retains no offensive odour. It 

 is, however, far inferior in value to the fur of the sa- 

 ble, the ermine, and other natives of the northern re- 

 gions. The skins sell from eighteen-pence to half a 

 crown a piece. 



THE ICHNEUMON 



is an animal which has long attracted the attention of 

 naturalists, and given rise to a number of absurd and 

 ridiculous stories. It has from time immemorial been 

 domesticated in Egypt; where, for its services in dc- 1 

 stroyingthe eggs of the crocodile, aswell as its young,, 

 it was, like several other beneficial animals, worship- 

 ped as an emanation of the Deity. From the estima- 

 tion in which it \vas held in that country, it has ob- 

 tained the appellation of the rat of Pharoah. 



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



Egypt is domesticated like that animal, and kept for 



the same purposes of destroying rats and mice. la 



shape, it nearly resembles the foumart, or pole-cat: 



K 4 



