185 



lias'climbnK to secure herself and her young still far* 

 ther, she twists her tail twice round some small bough, 

 and then drops from it. There she hangs with her 

 head downward : and whenever she pleases, she reco-* 

 verslhe branch with her feet by a swing, and loosen- 

 ing her 'tail, walks about as usual. 



To enable her thus to hang, there are spikes or 

 hooks in the under side of the vertebre of the tail. 

 Indeed, in the first three vertebre there are none ; for 

 they would be of no use. But they are found in all 

 the rest. They are placed just at the articulation of 

 each joint, and in the middle from the sides. No* 

 filing could be more advantageously contrived. For 

 \vhcnthe tail is twisted round a bough, these hooks 

 easily sustain the weight. And there is no more la- 

 bour of the muscles required, than just to bow or 

 crook the tail. 



Another animal of a very peculiar kind is an IcJu 

 neuraon. It is of the weasel-kind, with a longer and 

 narrower body than a cat, something approaching to 

 the shape and colour of a badger. Its nose is black 

 and sharp, like that of a ferret. Its colour is a yel- 

 lowish grey. Its legs are short, and each of its feet 

 has five toes. Its tail is very long; its teeth and 

 tongue much like those of a cat. It is a very cleanly 

 animal, very brisk and nimble, and of great courage. 

 It will engage a dog, and will destroy a cat, by three 

 bites on the throat. But it is quite inoffensive to'man- 

 kind, and is kept tame in Egypt, running about the 

 house, destroying all vermin, and playing tricks, like 

 spaniels. 



When wild, he cannot overtake any nimble animal. 

 But he makes this up by assiduity. His h-gs being 

 short, he is not much seen ; but he has a way of con. 

 cealing himself yet more, by crawling with his belly 

 close to the ground, which he does all day long. But 

 on the least noise (for his hearing is exceeding quick) 

 he starts up erect on his hinder legs. If the noise is 

 made by any reptile, bird, or small beast, he observes 



