TIIE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
291 
than our larger dogs. It is distinguished by long parted hair 
lying flat in its forehead. This species is extremely nume- 
rous, and a great annoyance to the corn fields and gardens, 
which they rob in the face of the owner, while they deride 
him by antick gestures. 
A variety of porcupines, racoons, armadiiloes, squirrels, 
and mongooses, are found in Ceylon. The porcupines are 
easily caught, and are frequently kept tame in the houses. 
The squirrels are very destructive to the gardens, which 
they invade in multitudes and devour vast quantities of the 
fruit. The black squirrel of Ceylon has the nose red, and is 
remarkable for being three times as large as our common 
squirrel, and for having a tail twice as long as its body. 
The small striped squirrel is very playful, and is constantly 
seen squeaking and skipping about among the trees. 
The Indian ichneumon is a small creature, in appearance 
between a w r eazel and a mongoose. It is of infinite use to 
the natives, from its inveterate enmity to snakes, which 
would otherwise render every footstep of the traveller danger- 
ous. The proofs of sagacity which I have seen in this little 
animal are truly surprising, and afford a beautiful instance of 
the wisdom ’with which Providence has fitted the powers of 
every animal to its particular situation on the globe. This 
diminutive creature, on seeing a snake ever so large, will 
instantly dart on it and seize it by the throat, provided he 
finds himself in an open place where he has an opportunity 
of running to a certain herb, which he knows instinctively 
p p 2 
