THE ICHNEUMON. 79 



The Ci-vits. The family Viverridse includes a large number 

 of species of small carnivorous animals of which the Civits 

 and the Ichneumons are the best known. They belong 

 chiefly to Africa and South Asia, but some are found in 

 the south of Europe. The African Civit hails from Gaboon 

 and Abyssinia and the Asiatic variety from Bengal, Nepaul, 

 China and Formosa. It is from these animals that we get 

 the fatty substance, used in perfumery and known as 

 civit. Of this Mr. Piesse says: "In is pure state, civit 

 has to nearly all persons a most disgusting odour, but when 

 diluted to an infinitesimal portion its perfume its agreeable. 

 The Genet, and the Paradoxure are other genera of this 

 family." 



The Ichneumon. The Ichneumon numbers some fifteen genera, 

 and sixty species. The best known of these is the grey 

 Ichneumon which comes from India or adjacent countries. 

 Naturally savage it soon becomes tame under kindly treat- 

 ment. It seems to have a natural enmity towards serpents, 

 which it attacks and destroys. The Mahrattas say that it 

 neutralizes the effects of snake bites by eating the root of 

 the monguswail. Captain Brown records an experiment in 

 which the ichneumon was placed in a room with a poisonous 

 serpent which it tried to avoid. On the two being removed 

 to the open air, the ichneumon is said to have immediately 

 darted at the serpent and destroyed it, afterwards retiring 

 to the wood and eating a portion of the plant said to be 

 an antidote to the serpent's venom. The Ichneumon is 

 about the size of the domestic cat and of a dark silver 

 grey colour. The Egj^tian Ichneumon much resembles the 

 cat in its habits and manners and is so deadly a foe to 

 reptiles and vermin, that it is domesticated with a view to 

 their destruction. It is remarkably quick in its movements, 

 darting with unerring aim at the head of the reptile it 

 attacks. It displays also the cat's patience in watching for 

 its prey. It has a great liking for crocodile's eggs and with 



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