THE WEASEL KIND. 



337 



punished if the proper quantity be not pro- 

 vided. 



The sable is also killed by the Russian sol- 

 diers, who are sent into those parts to that 

 end. They are taxed a certain number of 

 skins yearly, like the former, and are obliged 

 to shoot with only a single ball, to avoid spoil- 

 ing the skin, or else with a cross-bow, and 

 blunt arrows. As an encouragement to the 

 hunters, they are allowed to share among 

 themselves the surplus of those skins which 

 they thus procure ; and this, in the process of 

 six or seven years, amounts to a very consi- 

 derable sum. A colonel, during his seven 

 years stay, gains about four thousand crowns 

 for his share, and the common men six or se- 

 ven hundred each for theirs. 



THE ICHNEUMON 



THE Ichneumon, which some have injudici- 

 ously denominated the cat of Pharaoh, is one 

 of the boldest and most useful animals of all 

 the weasel kind. In the kingdom of Egypt, 

 where it is chiefly bred, it is used for the same 

 purposes that cats are in Europe, and is even 

 more serviceable, as being more expert in 

 catching mice than they. This animal is usu- 

 ally of the size of the martin, and greatly re- 

 sembles it in appearance, except that the hair, 

 which is of a grisly black, is much rougher, 

 and less downy. The tail, also, is not so bushy 

 at the end ; and each hair in particular has 

 three or four colours, which are seen in dif- 

 ferent dispositions of its body. Under its 

 rougher hairs, there is a softer fur of a brown- 

 ish colour, the rough hair being about two 

 inches long, but that of the muzzle extremely 

 short, as likewise that on the legs and paws. 

 However, being long since brought into a 

 domestic state, there are many varieties in 

 this animal; some being much larger than 

 the martin, others much less; some being of 

 a lighter mixture of colours, and some being 

 streaked in the manner of a cat. 



The ichneumon, with all the strength of a 

 cat, has more instinct and agility ; a more uni- 

 versal appetite for carnage, and a greater va- 

 riety of powers to procure it." Rats, mice, 



The rest of this description is extracted from Mr. Buf- 

 fon, except where marked with commas. 



birds, serpents, lizards, and insects, are all 

 equally pursued ; it attacks every living tiling 

 which it is able to overcome, and indiscrimi- 

 nately preys on flesh of all kinds. Its cou- 

 rage is equal to the vehemence of its appetites. 

 It fears neither the force of the dog, nor the 

 insidious malice of the cat ; neither the clawt 

 of the vulture, nor the poison of the viper. 

 It makes war upon all kinds of serpents with 

 great avidity, seizes and kills them, how ve- 

 nomous soever they be ; and, we are told, 

 that when it begins to perceive the effects of 

 their rage, it has recourse to a certain root, 

 which the Indians call after its name, and as- 

 sert to be an antidote for the bite of the asp 

 or the viper. 



But what this animal is particularly service- 

 able to the Egyptians for, is, that it discovers 

 and destroys the eggs of the crocodile. It also 

 kills the young ones that have not as yet been 

 able to reach the water; and, as fable usually 

 goes hand in hand with truth, it is said that 

 the ichneumon sometimes enters the mouth 

 of the crocodile, when it is found sleeping on 

 the shore, boldly attacks the enemy in the in- 

 side, and at length, when it has effectually 

 destroyed it, it eats its way out again. 



The ichneumon, when wild, generally re- 

 sides along the banks of rivers ; and in times 

 of inundation makes to the higher ground, of- 

 ten approaching inhabited places in quest of 

 prey. It goes forward silently and cautious- 

 ly, changing its manner of moving according 

 to its necessities. Sometimes it carries the 

 head high, shortens its body, and raises itself 

 upon its legs; sometimes it lengthens itself, 

 and seems to creep along the ground ; it is 

 often observed to sit upon its hind legs, like 

 a dog when taught to beg ; but more common- 

 ly it is seen to dart like an arrow upon its 

 Krey, and seize it with inevitable certainty. 

 ;s eyes are sprightly and full of fire, its phy- 

 siognomy sensible, its body nimble, its tail 

 long, and its hair rough and various. Like 

 all of its kind, it has glands that open behind 

 and furnish an odorous substance. Its nose 

 is too sharp and its mouth too small to per- 

 mit its seizing things that are large ; however, 

 it makes up by its courage and activity its 

 want of arms ; it easily strangles a cat though 

 stronger and larger than itself; and often 

 fights with dogs, which, though never so bold, 



