394 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



nearly dried up ; and men have ceased to witness these 

 sorts of wonders precisely at the period when th^y ceased 

 to believe them. 



The Ichneumon exhibits the utmost perseverance in the 

 pursuit of its prey. It will remain for hours in the same 

 place watching the animal which it has marked out as its 

 victim. This quality renders it an exceedingly proper sub- 

 stitute for, a Cat, in the office of ridding a house of such* 

 parasitical animals as may have chosen it for their retreat. 

 For this purpose the Ichneumons are constantly domesti- 

 cated. They acquire an attachment to the house which 

 they inhabit, and to the persons with which they are 

 brought up ; they never wander, or make the slightest at- 

 tempt to regain their original state of wildness and liberty. 

 They know the persons, and recognise the voices of their 

 masters, and are pleased with the caresses which are be- 

 stowed upon them. These animals, however, lose a consi- 

 derable part of the mildness of their character in the act 

 of eating. They seek the most hidden retreats, and mani- 

 fest the utmost anger if any one approach them when they 

 are satisfying their appetite. 



When an Ichneumon penetrates into a place unknown to 

 it, it immediately explores every hole and corner. Its 

 instrument of research appears to be chiefly its sense of 

 smelling, which is uncommonly powerful and acute. To 

 this it seems principally to trust, for its other senses, par- 

 ticularly those of sight, taste, and touch, are comparatively 

 feeble, and present no peculiar characteristics. The exter- 

 nal ear, indeed, is remarkable, by its considerable breadth, 

 and the extension of the orifice. 



The organs of the Ichneumon are the same with those of 

 all the Mangoustes. There are six incisives in each jaw 

 and two canines. The upper jaw has three false molars, 

 the carnivorous tooth, and two tuberculous ; the lowest jaw 

 has one tuberculous tooth less, but its carnivorous tooth is 



