84 Q^U A D R U P E D S. 



This animal was formerly worfhipped by the Egyptians. If we con- 

 Cider the number of eggs which the crocodile lays, pften three or four 

 hundred, we have reafon to admire this animal's ufefulnefs, as well as 

 induftry, in dcftroying them, fince otherwife the crocodile might be 

 produced in fufficient numbers to over-run the whole earth ; befide 

 which, his fervices in deftroying the various kinds of ferpencs, place 

 his utility much above that of many deities adopted among that fupcr- 

 flitious people. 



THE STINKARDS. 



LL the weafel kind have glands furnifhing an odorous matter, 



near the anus. The fubftance they furnilh is in fome a perfume ; 



in others, as the weaf<^', ermine, ferret, and polecat, is extremely ofFen- 

 five ; but the fmell of thefe is fragrance itfelf, when compared to that 

 of the Squcijh and the Skunky which are found in America, alfo'in the 

 fouth of Africa, and denominated by our failors THE STINK- 

 ARDS. The glands in thefe animals are much larger, and fur- 

 nifh a matter fublimed to a degree of putrefcence truly amazing. A 

 fingle grain of mufk or civet will difFufe itfelf over a houfe, and conti- 

 nue for months ; but this is nothing, either for ftrength or duration, to 

 this infupportable odour. It is ufually voided with their excrement ; 

 and if iDUt a fingle drop happens to touch a man's garment, it is 

 fcarce - poffible he fhould wear any part of it more. This ejection 

 of their excrement defends them againft their purfuers ; nor is einploy- 

 ed, except when enraged or affrighted. They are often kept tame 

 about houfes in America, without being very offenfive. 



The SquaJJj is about the fize of a polecat, its hair a deep brown, but 

 differs in having only four toes on the feet before, whereas all other 

 weafels have five. The Skunk refembles a polecat, but differs in the 

 length of its hair and colour. The hair is above three inches and a half 

 long, at the end of the tail above four inches. Colour is partly blaqk, 

 partly white, varioufly difpofed, very gloffy, long and beautiful. 

 ' The Conepate and the Zorille feem varieties. The conepate refem- 

 bles the fl<unk, except in fize, being fmaller, and in the difpofition of 

 its colours, which are more exadt, haying five white flripes on a black 

 ground, running longitudinally from the head to the tail. The zonlle 

 * refembles 



