THE MOONGUS AND THE CRYPTOPROCTA. 75 



secretes has not as yet been held of any commercial value. The claws 

 are partially retractile. 



The word " Ichneumon " is Greek, and literally signifies " a tracker." 



The MooNGUS, sometimes called the Indian Ichneumon, is in its 

 Asiatic home as useful an animal as the Egyptian Ichneumon in Africa.. 

 In that country it is an indefatigable destroyer of rats, mice, and the 

 various reptiles, and is on that account highly valued and protected. 

 Being, as are Ichneumons in general, extremely cleanly in manners, 

 and very susceptible of domestication, it is kept tame in many families, 

 and does good service in keeping the houses clear of the various an- 

 imated pests that render an Indian town a disagreeable, and sometimes 

 a dangerous, residence. 



In its customs it very much resembles the cat, and is gifted with all 

 the inquisitive nature of that animal. When first introduced into a new 

 locality it runs about the place, insinuating itself into every hole and 

 corner, and snifiing curiously at every object with which it comes in 

 contact. Even in its wild state it exliibits the same qualities, and by 

 a careful observer may be seen questing about in search of its food, 

 exploring every little tuft of vegetation that comes in its way, running 

 over every rocky projection, and thrusting its sharp snout into every 

 hollow. Sometimes it buries itself entirely in some little hole, and 

 when it returns to light drags with it a mole, a rat, or some such crea- 

 ture, which had vainly sought security in its narrow domicile. 



While eating, the Ichneumon is very tetchy in its temper, and will 

 very seldom endure an interruption of any kind. In order to secure 

 perfect quiet while taking its meals, it generally carries the food into 

 the most secluded hiding-place that it can find, and then commences 

 its meal in solitude and darkness. The color of the Moongus is a gray, 

 liberally flecked with darker hairs, so as to produce a very pleasing 

 mixture of tints. It is not so large an animal as its Egyptian rela- 

 tive. 



The last of the great Viverrine group of animals is the Crypto- 

 PROCTA, a creature whose rabbit-like mildness of aspect entirely belies 

 its nature. 



It is a native of Madagascar, and has been brought from the south- 

 ern portions of that wonderful island. It is much to be wished that 

 the zoology of so prolific a country should be thoroughly explored, and 

 that competent naturalists should devote much time and severe labor 

 to the collection of specimens, and the careful investigation of animals 

 while in their wild state. 



Gentle and quiet as the animal appears, it is one of the fiercest lit- 

 tle creatures known. Its limbs, though small, are very powerful, their 

 muscles being extremely full and well knit together. Its appetite for 

 blood seems to be as insatiable as that of the tiger, and its activity is 



