686 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



fauna. The ichneumon of northern Africa and Spain is one of the best- 

 known, and its habit of destroying vermin of all sorts brought it into high 

 repute with the ancient Egyptians, who embalmed its body. In India the 

 Indian ichneumon, or mongoose, takes its place, and its value as a 

 destroyer of rats, snakes, and other pests makes it a favorite. It does 

 not hesitate to attack the most venomous forms, and some say that it 

 knows some specific against their poison, and that when bitten it rushes 

 off to the woods and eats the plant which is to counteract the virus. This, 

 however, seems to be an erroneous idea like that of the Indian specific 

 against the bite of the rattlesnake. The mongoose probably owes its 

 immunity solely to its audacity and agility. It avoids their blows with 



Fig. 527. — Indian ichneumon, or mongoose (Herpestes griseusy. 



great adroitness, and tries to plant its teeth in the head of the cobra itself. 

 All of the ichneumons make interesting pets, as they are intelligent and 

 active. 



Near relatives are the suricates of Africa, which are even more inter- 

 esting in confinement. Frank Buckland had a tame specimen of whose 

 habits he has given an interesting account. It .was full of curiosity, and 

 examined everything. At breakfast time it would make its appearance at 

 the table, and climb upon it. if not fed in due season. It made a most 

 amusing sight when it would "smell of the eggs, and swear at them in 

 its own language." After breakfast there was usually a fight with the 

 monkeys: for the suricate would try to steal their food. He had found 



