340 THE ICHNEUMON. 



indiscriminately preys on flesh of all kinds. Its courage is 

 equal to the vehemence of its appetite. It fears neither the 

 force of the dog, nor the insidious malice of the cat ; neither 

 the claws of the vulture, nor the poison of the viper. It 

 makes war; upon all kinds of serpents with great avidity, 

 seizes and kills them, how venomous soever they be ; and, 

 we are told, that when it begins to perceive the effects of their 

 rage, it has recourse to a certain root, which the Indians call 

 after its name, and assert to be an antidote for the bite of the 

 asp or the viper. 



But what this animal is particularly serviceable to the 

 Egyptians for, is, that it discovers and destroys the eggs of 

 the crocodile. It also kills the young ones that have not as 

 yet been able to reach the water ; and, as fable usually goes 

 hand in hand with truth, it is said that the Ichneumon some- 

 times enters the mouth of the crocodile, when it is found 

 sleeping on the shore, boldly attacks the enemy in the inside, 

 and at length, when it has effectually destroyed it, it eats its 

 way out again. 



The Ichneumon, when wild, generally resides along the 

 banks of rivers ; and in times of inundation makes to the 

 higher ground, often approaching inhabited places in quest of 

 prey. It goes forward silently and cautiously, changing its 

 manner of moving according to its necessities. Sometimes it 

 carries the head high, shortens its body, and raises itself upon 

 its legs ; sometimes it lengthens itself, and seems to creep 

 along the ground ; it is often observed to sit upon its hind 

 legs, like a dog when taught to beg ; but more commonly it 

 is seen to dart like an arrow upon its prey, and seize it with 

 inevitable certainty. Its eyes are sprightly and full of fire, 

 its physiognomy sensible, its body nimble, its tail long, and 

 its hair rough and various. Like all of its kind, it has glands 

 that open behind and furnish an odorous substance. Its nose 

 is too sharp and its mouth too small to permit its seizing 

 things that are large ; however, it makes up by its courage 

 and activity its want of arms : it easily strangles a cat though 

 stronger and larger than itself ; and often fights with dogs, 



