NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Account of a tame suricate. 



THE SURICATE. 



THIS animal is somewhat less than the rab- 

 bit, and nearly resembles the ichneumon in co- 

 lour ; but its hair is rougher, and its tail not 

 quite so long. The snout is raised and promi- 

 nent; the upper jaw is pliant and moveable, and 

 like the hyaena, the animal has only four toes 

 on each foot. 



A female suricate in the possession of M. de 

 Seve was very handsome, lively, and subtle; she 

 sometimes was observed to walk on her hind 

 legs, and frequently to sit upright, with her fore- 

 paws hanging down on her breast, her head at 

 the same time, being erect, and moving on her 

 neck as on a pivot. 



This animal was at first fed with milk, being 

 very young; but she soon evinced an inclination 

 for raw meat, and was particularly fond of poul- 

 try, fish, and eggs : she would even take out eggs 

 that were put in water to be boiled, and carry 

 them off in her paws. Like the squirrel, she 

 used her fore feet to carry food to her mouth, 

 and lapped her drink like a dog ; but would not 

 touch water unless it were lukewarm. 



She played with cats with the greatest famili- 

 arity, and was so well tamed that she went loose 

 about the house, and invariably answered to her 

 name when called. She had two kinds of voices, 

 one like the barking of a puppy, when she was 



