THE ICHNEUMON. 311 



long and slender body, with short legs ; a sharp- 

 ened visage ; and, in most species, a longish tail. 

 In some of this tribe also, the tongue is smooth ; 

 and, in others, it is furnished with prickles pointing 

 backwards. 



THE ICHNEUMON *. 



The Ichneumon is a native of Egypt, Barbary, 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. Its length, from the 

 tip of the nose to the end of the tail, is from twenty- 

 four to forty-two inches, of which the tail occupies 

 nearly one-half. Its colour is pale reddish-grey, each 

 hair being mottled with brown or mouse-colour. 

 The eyes are of a bright red ; the ears almost 

 naked, small, and rounded ; and the nose long and 

 slender. The tail is very thick at the base ; from 

 whence it gradually tapers to almost a point, where 

 it is slightly tufted. The hair is hard and coarse ; 

 and the legs are short. 



In Egypt, the Ichneumon is considered as one of 

 the most useful and estimable of animals; being an 

 inveterate enemy to the Serpents and other noxious 

 reptiles which infest the neighbourhood of the 

 Torrid zone. It attacks without dread that most 

 fatal of Serpents, the Cohra dl Capdh or Hooded 

 Snake 'j-; and when it receives a wound in the 

 combat, instantly retires, and is said to obtain an 



* Synonyms. — Viverra Ichneumon, hinn, — ^Egypti&n Ichneumon. 



Kerr. — Great Man|.,oustc. — Bm. BuJJbn. — Ichneumon. — Pciin.-^ 



Shaws Gen. Zoo^. pi. Qi. 



t Coluber Naja of Liimxus. 



X4 



