THE ICHNEUMON. 



antidote from a certain herb, after which it returns to the attack, and feldom 

 fails of victory. It is likewife a great deftroyer of the eggs of the crocodile, 

 which it digs out of the fand ; and even kills multitudes of the young of 

 thofe terrible reptiles : the Egyptians, therefore, had abundant reafon for 

 ranking the Ichneumon among their objects of worfliip. It is more ufeful, 

 for deltroying Rats and Mice, than the Cat, having a much greater appetite 

 for carnage : it is active and cunning in its mode of attack, and glides along 

 the ground, towards its prey, like a Serpent, as if it had no feet : it fits erecl: 

 like the Squirrel, and holds its food in its fore paws like that animal : it will 

 catch any thing that is flung at it. Poultry are its favourite food, and it will 

 feign itfelf dead, till they come within its reach, when it will fpring on them 

 with great velocity and unerring aim, and, after fucking their blood, draw 

 them to its hole : it is likewife very fond of filh. When it fleeps, it brings 

 its head and tail under its belly, and looks like a round ball with two legs 

 flicking out. It is remarkably Ikilful in feizing Serpents by the throat, fo as 

 to avoid being injured by them. In a domeftic ftate they are capable of great 

 attachment, and will follow thofe they are accuftomed to, like a Cat; 

 appearing, like that animal, to be much delighted with being carefled. 

 Mr. D'Obfonville fpeaks of one which he reared, and which, he fays, became 

 tamer than a Cat, and would imitate that animal in many of its actions. 

 " One day he prefented to it a fmall Water-ferpent alive, being defirous to 

 know how far inftincl: would carry it againfl: an animal with which it was 

 hitherto unacquainted. At firfl: it appeared altoniflied and angry ; its hair 

 became erect; in an inftant, it flipped behind the reptile, and, with 

 wonderful fwiftnefs and agility, leaped on its head, which it feized, and 

 cruflied with its teeth. This firft regale feemed to have awakened its 



elfays, which he publifhed from the German of Dr. Girtanner, where the curious reader will find a 

 fatisfactory account of its mode of operating. It has fince been ftrongly recommended, and fupported by 

 fome remarkable cafes, in an effay, written by John Williams, efq. and publiihed with other valuable 

 tra&s, in a late work, entitled, Differtations, &c. relating to the Hiftory and Science of Aria, vol. ii, p. 222. 

 As oil is a common remedy, in fuch cafes, it is proper to obferve, that it ihouid never be adminiftered with 

 the cauftic volatile alkali, as it not only retards, but even prevents, its operation 5 and, under all circumftances, 

 the internal ufe of it does more harm than good. 



