'49^ ICHNEUMON. 



Genus IV. — Ichneumon, 



This genus contains a numerous lift of infe£ls, whofe 

 manners appear lingular, even amidft the wonders which 

 this clafs of beings is continually difplaying. It contains 

 upwards of feventy different fpecies, all chara£terifed by 

 the antennae, wnich have more than thirty articulations ; 

 by the mouth, armed with jaws, but without a tongue j 

 and by the abdomen, which is joined to the body by a 

 pedicle or ftalk, and which terminates in a proje£ting 

 fling, inclofed in a cylindrical flieath f . 



We have already had occafion to obferve one ftriking 

 peculiarity in the manners of fome infefts of this genus, 

 ■who make their way into the body of the caterpillars of 

 different kinds, and there depofite their eggs. It is from 

 the lignal fervices which they perform, in deftroying 

 caterpillars, plant lice, and other infeds, that they have 

 derived their name : Thefe animals are devoured by 

 them, as the genuine ichneumon, or mangoufte, deftroys 

 the crocodiles. 



As the fpecies and varieties of the ichneumons are 

 prodigioufly numerous, fo their manners are extremely 

 diverfified : In the general outlines of their character, 

 they all agree, being remarkable for their depredations 

 among the infedt tribes. In fome, the female is furnilh- 



e4 



t Syftema Nat. Ord. Y. Gzviii, 



