344 



Crragurg of Batumi 



" This," says Cuvier, " is the most cele- 

 brated species : it was reared in the temples 

 of ancient Egypt, with veneration which ap- 

 proached to worship ; and it was embalmed 

 after its death, as some said, because it de- 

 voured the serpents which would otherwise 

 have become dangerous to the country : 

 according to others, because there was a 

 resemblance between its plumage and some 

 of the phases of the moon : finally, ac- 

 cording to other some, because its advent 

 announced the rising of the Nile. For a 

 long time it was thought that this Ibis of 

 the Egyptians was the Tantalus of Africa: 

 we now know it belongs to the genus of 

 ivhich we are treating. It is as large as a 

 hen, with white plumage, except the end of 

 the wing-feathers, which is black ; the last 

 coverts have their barbs elongated, loose, 

 black, with violet reflections, and thus co- 

 vering the end of the wings and tail. The 

 bill and the feet are black, as well as all the 

 naked part of the head and neck : this part 

 is covered in youth, at least on its upper 

 surface, with small blackish feathers. The 

 species is found throughout the extent of 

 Africa." 



The SCARLET IBIS (Ibis rvbra) is a very 

 splendid bird, and is found in the hottest 

 parts of America in large flocks. They fly 

 rapidly, but rarely, except at morning and 

 evening, in search of food. The plumage is 

 scarlet ; beak naked ; part of the cheeks, 

 legs, and feet, pale red. Before the Scarlet 

 Ibis reaches its full age, its plumage varies 

 considerably Other species are found in 

 India, Madagascar, the Cape ol Good Hope, 

 and Mexico. 



ICHNEUMON. (Herpcstes.-) An animal 

 bearing a very close resemblance to the 

 weasel tribe both in form and habits. From 

 the snout to the root of the tail it is about 

 eighteen inches long : it has a long, agile 

 body, short limbs, semi-plantigrade feet, 

 small glowing eyes, and a pointed nose. It 

 glides towards its prey with a snake-like 

 movement, and then darts suddenly upon 

 it. These animals feed upon birds, reptiles, 



ICHNEUMON. (HERFF? 



TONECTMON.) 



rats, mice, &c. Their disposition is as san- 

 guinary as their habits are predatory ; but 

 though the destruction they cause among 

 the poultry is very annoying, it is well com- 

 pensated by the incessant war they wage 

 against reptiles, the eggs of which they de- 

 vour with the greatest avidity. The most 

 celebrated species inhabits Egypt and the 

 adjacent countries, where it is called " Pha- 

 raoh's rat." It is larger than a cat, but 

 formed like a weasel ; it is of a gray colour, 

 and has a long tail, terminated by a black 



tuft. This species was ranked by the ancient 

 Egyptians among their numerous divinities 

 on account, it is supposed, of the benefits it 

 confers on man by the destruction of croco- 

 diles, whose eggs it digs out of the sand, and 

 sucks. It is also a natural enemy of the 

 whole serpent race, and so exceedingly ex- 

 pert in seizing them by the neck, as to avoid 

 any injury to itself. The Ichneumon is 

 easily domesticated, seeming to form an 

 attachment to its place of residence ; and it 

 is not unfrequently kept tame both in India 

 and Egypt, for the purpose of clearing the 

 houses of mice and rats. Ichneumons are 

 sometimes seen to squat on their haunches, 

 and feed themselves with their fore paws, 

 like the squirrel. When they sleep, they 

 bring their head and tail under their belly, 



and appear like a round ball. In a wild 

 te they generally reside along the banks 

 of rivers ; and they swim and dive like the 



state 



otter, being able to continue under water 

 for a great length of time. 



ICHNEUMONID.33, or ICHNEUMON- 

 FLIES. A family of hymenopterous in- 

 sects, the genera and species of which are 

 very numerous, and their manners ex- 

 tremely diversified, but all agreeing in this 

 characteristic that they deposit their eggs 

 in the bodies of other living insects, and 

 generally in those of caterpillars. The 



females have a sharp and strong abdominal 

 tube, or ovipositor, which is used to insert 

 their eggs into the bodies of Caterpillars 

 that live beneath the bark, or in the cre- 

 vices of wood ; this is generally long, and 

 capable of piercing almost any substance ; 

 while such as have a short ovipositor, place 

 their eggs in or upon those caterpillars to 

 which they have easy access. These eggs 



