THE CRYPTOPROCTA. 57 
wild state it exhibits the same qualities, and by a careful observer may be 
seen questing about in search of its food, exploring every little tuft of vegeta- 
tion that comes in its way, running over every rocky projection, and thrusting 
its sharp snout into every hollow. Sometimes it buries itself entirely in some 
little hole, and when it returns to light drags with it a mole, a rat, or some 
such creature, which had vainly sought security in its narrow domicile. 
While eating, the Ichneumon is very tetchy in its temper, and will very 
seldom endure an interruption of any kind. In order to secure perfect quiet 
while taking its meals, it generally carries the food into the most secluded 
hiding-place that it can find, and then commences its meal in solitude 
and darkness. The colour of the Moongus is a grey, liberally flecked with 
darker hairs, so as to produce a very pleasing mixture of tints. It is not so 
large an animal as its Egyptian relative. 
<a 
Aap ae BS RASS 
MOONGUS.—(Herfestes Griseus), 
THE last of the great Viverine group of animals is the CRYPTOPROCTA, a 
creature whose rabbit-like mildness of aspect entirely belies its nature. , 
It is a native of Madagascar, and has been brought from the southern 
portions of that wonderful island. It is much to be wished that the zoology 
of so prolific a country should be thoroughly explored, and that competent 
naturalists should devote much time and severe labour to the collection 
of specimens, and the careful investigation of animals while in their wild 
state. 
Gentle and quiet as the animal appears, it is one of the fiercest little 
creatures known. Its limbs, though small, are very powerful, their muscles 
being extremely full and well knit together. Its appetite for blood seems to 
be as insatiable as that of the tiger, and its activity is very great, so that it may 
well be imagined to be a terrible foe to any animals on whom it may choose 
to make an attack. For this savage nature it has received the name of 
“Ferox,” or fierce. Its generic name of Cryptoprocta is given to it on ac- 
count of the manner in which the hinder quarters suddenly taper down and 
