THE CIVET FAMILY- DOG-FOOTED CIVETS. 



145 



insure certain protection from the teeth of its op- 

 ponent, while it protected its face by enveloping it 

 with its tail. Tradition is not content with all this, 

 but according to Pliny it invests this courageous 

 promoter of public welfare with a great many more 

 brilliant qualities. When the Crocodile has eaten 

 its fill, it comfortably 

 lies down on the sand 

 and opens its huge 

 mouth, well garnished 

 with teeth, threatening 

 dire peril to every dis- 

 turber of its peace. 

 Only one little bird is 

 impudent enough to 

 pick out the shreds of 

 food remaining be- 

 tween the teeth. Be- 

 sides this little bird all 

 animals dread the mon- 

 ster, except the Ich- 

 neumon, which stealth- 

 ily approaches, enters 

 the Crocodile's mouth 

 with a bold bound, 

 bites its way through 

 the throat to the Croc- 

 odile's heart, lacerates 

 it, and in this way kills 

 the huge monster. 

 Then, covered with 

 blood, it works itself 

 out of the dead body 

 with its sharp teeth. 

 Or else it lurks around 

 and finds the place 

 where the dreaded rep- 

 tile's numerous eggs 

 are buried; it digs and 

 works until it reaches 

 the treasure in the 

 depths of the earth and 

 in spite of the mother, 

 which carefully mounts 

 guard over the eggs, it 

 devours them all in a 

 short time and comes 

 out an inestimable ben- 

 efactor to mankind. It 

 is not to be doubted 

 that the Egyptians be- 

 lieved all these tales 

 and recounted them to 

 the above mentioned 

 authors; and that these 

 naturalists, ordinarily 

 so accurate, were thus 

 led into complete error 

 in this particular case. 

 All these beautiful sto- 

 ries are wholly without 

 foundation. It is only 

 in modern times that 

 exact data about the 



life and habits of the Ichneumon has been obtained, 

 but even several centuries ago travellers were led to 

 express grave doubts as to the usefulness of the 

 Ichneumon, and only the strong tendency of hu- 

 manity to cling tenaciously to all old and well-be- 

 loved traditions prevented these ancient tales from 

 being long ago relegated to the category of fable. 



Characteristics 



of the 



Ichneumon. 



inches 



A full-grown Ichneumon consider- 

 ably exceeds our domestic Cat in 

 size. Its body is about twenty-six 

 long, and its tail at least eighteen inches. 



Its short legs make the animal appear smaller than 

 it is. The body is slender, like that of all Viver- 



«rtf 



ar. 



THE ICHNEUMON. This animal is appropriately pictured in the Nile Valley with pyramids in the distance, 



for although they are also found elsewhere they are most intimately connected with Egypt, as this was the sacred animal 

 of the ancient Egyptians, and is sometimes called " Pharaoh's Rat." The animal is very bloodthirsty and kills all ani- 

 mals it can overcome, among which Snakes are, very fortunately, included. The slender body thickly covered with long 

 fur, the long tail and short, black legs are shown in the picture. {Herfiestes ichneumon.) 



ridae, but is by no means as graceful as that of the 

 Genette. The legs are short, the soles naked and 

 the toes are connected by membranes for half their 

 length. The long tail appears very thick at its root, 

 owing to its very long fur, presenting almost the 

 appearance of gradually merging into the body, and 

 its extremity is provided with a tuft. The small 



