CHAP, XIV. ATTACK OF THE ASP. 155 



and adds, that its mode of killing the asp was by 

 seizing it by the head or tail, and dragging it into 

 the river. In Pliny and Aristotle's description* 

 of the Ichneumon, we find the same story respect- 

 ing the coat of mud, in which it was clad for an 

 encounter with the asp ; and the former adds, that 

 on perceiving its enemy, it deferred the attack until 

 it had called to its assistance other Ichneumons. 

 But modern experience proves that, without having 

 recourse to a cuirass of mud, the Ichneumon fear- 

 lessly attacks snakes ; and the moment it perceives 

 themt raise their head from the ground, it seizes 

 them at the back of the neck, and with a single 

 bite lays them dead before it. 



Diodorus affirms^ that the cat was regarded as 

 the destroyer of the asp, and other deadly serpents. 

 But though the cat is known to attack them, its 

 habits are not such as to ensure its success in these 

 encounters. Even in attacking the scorpion, few 

 have the address to kill that reptile, till it has been 

 acquired by experience, which with the asp would 

 be far too dearly bought. The way in which cats 

 attack the scorpion is curious. They turn it over 

 on its back by a blow of their claws upon its side, 

 and then placing one foot on the body they tear 

 off the tail with the other; and thus deprived of its 

 weapon of offence, it is killed, and sometimes eaten, 

 without further risk. 



The Arabs relate that when the icdran^ or 



* Aristot. Hist. An. ix. 6. 



■\ As Pliny says, " obliquo capite speculatus invadat in fauces." 

 (viii. 24.) It only eats the brains. 

 X Diodor. i. 87. 



