302 
Quadrupeds of Ceylon, 
was present at an experiment tried at Columbo to ascertain the 
reality of this circumstance. The ichneumon, procured for the 
purpose, was first shewn the snake in a close room. On being 
let down to the ground, he did not shew any inclination what- 
ever to attack his enemy, but ran prying about the room to 
discover if there was any hole or aperture by which he might 
get out. On finding none, he returned hastily to his master, - 
and placing himself in Ins bosom, could not by any means be 
induced to quit it, or face the snake. On being carried out 
of the house, however, and laid down near his antagonist in 
an open place, he instantly flew at the snake and soon des- 
troyed it. He then suddenly disappeared for a few minutes, 
and again returned as soon as he had found the herb and eat 
of it. This useful instinct impels the animal to have recourse 
to the herb on all occasions, where it is engaged with a 
snake, whether poisonous or not. The one employed in this 
experiment was of the harmless kind, and procured for the 
purpose. 
The flormouse, or flying-fox, like the bat, partakes of the 
appearance both of the bird and quadruped; and its name is 
derived from the great resemblance of its head and body to 
tlie fox. Its body is about the size of an ordinary cat : the 
wings when extended measure from the tip of the one to that 
of the other upwards of six feet ; and the length of the animal 
from the nose to the tail, of which it has barely the name, is 
about two feet. The flormouse lives in the woods, and perches 
on the tallest trees. While asleep or inactive these animals 
suspend themselves by the feet from the branches, and continue 
to hang in this manner as if they were dead. The night is 
the season of their activity: at that time they fly about with 
