THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 77 



Civets are a sort of connecting link between Cats and 

 Dogs. 



The Ichneumon is one of this family. It was 

 worshipped by the Egyptians, and the people were for- 

 bidden to kill it, because it kept down the number of 

 crocodiles by devouring their eggs, which it scratched 

 up out of the sand. It is frequently domesticated in 

 Egypt, as it keeps the houses clear of rats and other 

 vermin ; and a smaller species is also employed in India 

 for the same purpose. 



Dogs. These animals are so well known that it is 

 scarcely necessary to describe them. They have been 

 properly called the " friends of man," for they have accom- 

 panied him over the entire world. The honest, faithful, 

 and affectionate disposition of this animal renders it the 

 faithful companion of its master in every country. Nor is 

 the dog's affection dependent on interest, for the rough 

 cur that so carefully leads the blind beggar, refusing to 

 run away and play with the others he passes, and who 

 seem earnestly to invite him, is as content with the 

 dry crust, or with the bare bone, off which his poor 

 master has already scraped all that could be obtained, 

 as the well-kept and petted spaniel is with-the dainty food 

 its kind mistress has provided it. Dogs have five toes 

 on their front feet, but only four on the hinder ones, and, 

 as you know, their nails are not retractile. 



Wolves, though they belong to the dog-family, are 

 very different in their habits and disposition. They are 

 ferocious, sullen, and cowardly. They unite in packs, 

 and attack cattle and sheep, but they seldom venture 

 to assail animals of their own size and strength. Dr. 

 Carpenter gives the following Russian Government 

 report of the depredations of Wolves in Livonia a tract 

 of about 250 miles long and 150 broad in the year 

 1822 :" Horses, 1,841; cattle, 1,807; calves, 783; 



