OF QUADRUPEDS. 
85 
ICHNEUMON. 
This animal is domestic in Egypt, like 
our cat, and like it is very serviceable in 
destroying rats and mice; but its inclination 
for prey is much stronger and more extensive 
than that of the cat, for it hunts alike, birds, 
quadrupeds, serpents, lizards, and insects. 
Its courage is equal to the sharpness of its 
appetite ; it is neither frightened at the anger 
of the dog, nor the malice of the cut, nor 
even dreads the bite of the serpent. It pur- 
sues them with eagerness, seizes on and kills 
even the most venomous of them. It sucks 
the eggs of the crocodile, as well as those of 
fowls and birds. 
The Ichneumon lives very willingly by tire 
the sides of rivers, inundations, uud other 
waters. Its aspect is beautiful ; its eyes aro 
lively, and full of fire : the body very active, 
the legs short, tho toil thick and very long, 
and the hair rough and bristly. 
