278 HISTORY OF 



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, 

 which, though never so bold, learn to dread the ichneumon as a 

 formidable enemy. It also takes the water like an otter, and, 

 as we are told, will continue under it much longer. 



This animal grows fast, and dies soon. It is found in great 

 numbers in all the southern parts of Asia, from Egypt to Java; 

 and it is also found in Africa, particularly at the Cape of Good 

 Hope. It is domestic, as was said, in Egypt, but in our colder 

 climates it is not easy to breed or maintain them, as they are not 

 able to support the rigour of our winters. Nevertheless, they 

 take every precaution that instinct can dictate to keep themselves 

 warm ; they wrap themselves up into a ball, hiding the head be- 

 tween the legs, and in this manner continue to sleep all day long. 

 " Seba had one sent him from the island of Ceylon, which he 

 permitted to run for some months about the house. It was 

 heavy and slothful by day, and often could not be awakened even 

 with a blow ; but it made up this indolence by its nocturnal ac- 

 tivity, smelling about without either being wholly tame or wholly 

 mischievous. It climbed up the walls and the trees with very 

 great ease, and appeared extremely fond of spiders and worms, 

 which it preferred, pi-obably from their resemblance to serpents, 

 its most natural food. It was also particularly eager to scratch up 

 holes in the ground ; and this, added to its wildness and un. 

 cleanliness, obliged our naturalist to smother it in spirits, in 

 order to preserve, and add it to the rest of his collection. 



This animal was one of those formerly worshipped by the 

 Egyptians, who considered every thing that was serviceable to 

 them as an emanation of the Deity, and worshipped such as the 

 best representatives of God below. Indeed, if we consider the 

 number of eggs which the crocodile lays in the sand at a time, 

 which often amount to three or four hundred, we have reason to 

 admire this little animal's usefulness as well as industry in des- 

 troying them, since otherwise the crocodile might be produced 

 m sufficient numbers to overrun the whole earth, 



THE STINKAUDS. 



This is a name which our sailors give to one or two animals 



