ICHNEUMON. 
259 
of which escape destruction. They seem impatient 
of cold, and when transported to a temperate cli- 
mate take every precaution that instinct can dic- 
tate to keep themselves warm ; they roll themselves 
into a ball, and in this form continue to sleep all 
day long, with the head between the legs. This, 
however, is only when the weather is severe ; as 
there is one in the collection at Exeter Change, 
which was lively enough in the month of November, 
and moved about the cage without showing any signs 
of torpidity. Seba, the celebrated naturalist, had an 
ichneumon sent him from the island of Ceylon, 
which he permitted to run for some months about 
the house. It was heavy and slothful by day, and 
often could not be awaked even with a blow ; but 
it made up this indolence by its nocturnal activity, 
smelling about without being wholly tame, or 
wholly mischievous. It climbed up the walls and 
the trees with very great ease, and appeared ex- 
tremely fond of spiders and worms, which it pre- 
ferred probably from their resemblance to T serpents, 
its most natural food. It was also particularly eager 
to scratch up holes in the ground ; and this, added 
to its wildness and uncleanliness, obliged our na- 
turalist to smother it in spirits, in order to preserve, - 
and add it to the rest of his collection. 
