348 CAFFRARI AN WEASEL, AND ZENIC. 
one., ate a little, and. as appeared, drank the blood 
of two." 
In a wild state, the ichneumon is said to fre- 
quent principally the banks of rivers ; and, in times 
of flood, to approach the higher grounds and in- 
habited places in 'quest of prey. He is reported 
to swim and dive occasionally, in the manner of an 
otter ; and to continue beneath the water for a 
great length of time. His voice is very soft, some- 
what like a murmur ; but unless the animal is 
struck or irritated, he never exerts it. When he 
sleeps* he folds himself up like a ball, and is not 
easily awaked. 
The ichneumons are short lived, but grow very 
r lly. In our temperate climates, they cannot, 
without great difficulty, be either reared or pre- 
served. Whatever care be taken, the frosts in* 
commode them, and they generally fall victims to 
the change. 
Caffrarian weasel. 
This species in its general form resembles the 
polecat, but is nearly of the length of an otter. 
Its colour on all parts, except the tip of the tail* 
which is black, is a mixture of yellow brown and 
black, so as to resemble the colour of the aguti, 
but rather deeper, especially on the back ; the 
hair is of a strong and glossy nature ; the feet are 
blackish ; the ears very short, and covered with 
woolly fur. It is a native of the Cape of Good 
Hope. 
Zenic. 
This, which is described by Sonne rat* is a Caf- 
frarian species, and is about the size of a water-rat* 
