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A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE ICHNEUMON, OR EGYPTIAN 
MANGOUSTE. 
(Herpestes PJiaraonis.) 
AN animal noted in the mythology of ancient Egypt, in 
which country he has been long domesticated, and where 
ne was once deified, on account of his great utility in de- 
stroying serpents, snakes, rats, mice, and other vermin ; 
he is also fond of crocodiles' eggs, which he digs out of 
the sand where they have been deposited. It is a very 
fierce, though small animal, and will fight with dogs, foxes, 
and even jackals, with great fury. It will not breed in 
confinement, but may be easily tamed when taken young. 
The following particulars are related by M. D'Ob- 
sonville, in his Essays on the Nature of various foreign 
Animals: "I had an Ichneumon very young, which I 
