THE WEASEL. KIND. gj 



THE ICHNEUMON. 



THE ichneumon, which fonne have injudicioiifly denominated the 

 Cat of Pharaoh, is the boldeft and mofl ufcful of the weafel kind ; 

 in Egypt is ufed as the cat in Europe, and is more expert in catching 

 mice. Differs in fize from twenty-four to forty-two inches ; refemblc-s 

 the martin in appearance, but the hair is of a grifly black, much 

 rougher and lefs downy; the tail is not fo bulliy at the end, and each 

 hair has three or four colours, which fhew in different difpofitions of its 

 body. Under its rougher hairs is a foft brownifh fur; the rough hair is 

 aboui: two inches long, on the muzzle extremely fhort, as on the legs and 

 paws. Being long fince domefticated, has many varieties. 



The ichneumon, to the ftrength" of a cat, unites more inftinft and 

 agility, more univerfal appetite for carnage, and greater variety of 

 powers to procure it ; purfues equally rats, mice, birds, ferpents, li- 

 zards, infefts, every living thing which it can overcome. Its courage 

 equals its appetite. It fears neither dog, cat, vulture, nor viper ; at- 

 tacks all kinds of ferpents with avidity, feizes and kills them how ve- 

 nomous foever, even the colra di capello, fkiifully feizlng them by the 

 throat to avoid injury. It difcovers and deftroys the eggs of crocodiles, 

 and kills the young ones ere they reach the water ; generally refides on 

 the banks of rivers, in times of inundation approaching inhabited places, 

 in queft of prey. Advances" filently and cautioully, changing its manner 

 according to circumftances : fometimes carries its head high, fliortens 

 its body, and raifes itfelf on its legs ; fometimes lengthens itfelf, and 

 creeps along the ground, or fits on its hind legs, like a dog when beg- 

 ging ; or will feign irfelf dead ; loves fifli ; darts like an arrow on its prey, 

 and feizes it with inevitable certainty. Its eyes are fprightly and full of 

 fire J its phyfiognomy fenfible, its body nimble, tail long, hair rough and 

 various. Like all of its kind, has glands that open behind, and furnifli 

 an odorous fubfliance. Its nofe is too fharp, and its mouth too fmall, to 

 feize large things j eafly ftrangles a cat, and fights v/ith dogs ; takes the 

 water like an otter, and is laid to continue under it much longer j grows 

 fail and dies foon. 



^ Is found plentifully in the fouth of Afia, from Egypt to Java; in 

 Africa, at the Cape of Good Hope ; is incapable to fupport the rigour 

 of our winters. 



This 



