the weasel; a genus of quadrupeds belonging to the order of feræ. They have fix fore-teeth, the intermediate ones being shorter, and more than three grinders, and the claws are exerted. There are 27 species, the principal of which are,

1. The ichneumon, with the tail tapering to a point, and Viverra the toes distant from each other; inhabits Egypt, Barbary, India and its islands. It is there a most useful animal, being an inveterate enemy to the serpents and other noxious reptiles which infest the torrid zone; it attacks without dread that most fatal of serpents the Naja, or Cobra de Capello; and should it receive a wound in the combat, instantly retires, and is said to obtain an antidote from a certain herb (according to Sparmann the ophion biza); after which it returns to the attack, and seldom fails of victory; it is a great destroyer of the eggs of crocodiles, which it digs out of the sand; and even kills multitudes of the young of those terrible reptiles: it was not therefore without reason that the ancient Egyptians ranked the ichneumon among their deities. This animal is at present domesticated and kept in houses in India and in Egypt, for it is more useful than a cat in destroying rats and mice; and grows very tame. It is very active; springs with great agility on its prey; will glide along the ground like a serpent, and seems as if without feet. It fits up like a squirrel, and cats with its fore-feet, catching any thing that is flung to it. It is a great enemy to poultry, and will feign itself dead till they come within reach: loves fish; draws its prey, after sucking the blood, to its hole. Its excrements are very fetid; when it sleeps, it brings its head and tail under its belly, appearing like a round ball, with two legs sticking out. Rumphius observes how skilfully it seizes the serpents by the throat, so as to avoid receiving an injury; and Lucan beautifully describes the same address of this animal in conquering the Egyptian asp.

2. The vulpecula, or sliding weasel, has a short slender nose; short ears and legs; black body, full of hair; the tail long, of a black and white colour; length from nose to tail about 18 inches. It inhabits Mexico, and perhaps other parts of America. This and some other species are remarkable for the pellucid, suffocating, and most fetid vapour they emit from behind, when attacked, purloined, or frightened; it is their only means of defense. Some turn their tail to their enemy, and keep them at a distance by a frequent crepitus; and others ejaculate their urine, tainted with the horrid effluvia, to the distance of 18 feet. The purifiers are stopped with the terrible stench. Should any of this liquor fall into the eyes, it almost occasions blindness; if on the clothes, the smell will remain for several days, in spite of all washing; they must even be buried in fresh soil, in order to be sweetened. Dogs that are not true bred, run back as soon as they perceive the smell; those that have been used to it, will kill the animal; but are often obliged to relieve themselves by thrusting their noses into the ground. There is no bearing the company of a dog that has killed one for several days. Professor Kalm was one night in great danger of being suffocated by one that was purloined into a house where he slept; and it affected the cattle too, that they bellowed through pain. Another, which was killed by a maid-servant in a cellar, so affected her with its stench, that she lay ill for several days; all the provisions that were in the place were so tainted, that the owner was obliged to throw them away. Notwithstanding this, the flesh is reckoned good meat, and not unlike that of a pig; but it must be skinned as soon as killed, and the bladder taken carefully out. It breeds in hollow trees, or holes under ground, or in clefts of rocks; climbs trees with great agility; kills poultry; eats eggs, and destroys young birds.

3. The zibetha, or civet-cat, has short rounded ears; the back and sides cinereous, tinged with yellow, marked with large dusky spots disposed in rows; the hair coarse; that on the top of the body longest, standing up like a mane; the tail sometimes wholly black; sometimes spotted near the base; length, from nose to tail, about two feet three inches; the tail 14 inches; the body pretty thick. It inhabits India, the Philippine Isles, Guinea, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. The famous drug musk, or civet, which is produced from an aperture between the privities and the anus, in both sexes, is secreted from certain glands. The persons who keep them procure the musk by scraping the inside of the bag twice a week with an iron spatula, and get about a dram each time: but it is seldom sold pure, being generally mixed with fuel or oil, to make it more weighty. The males yield the most, especially when they are previously irritated. They are fed, when young, with pap made of millet, with a little flesh or fish; when old, with raw flesh. In a wild state, they prey on fowl. These animals seem not to be known to the ancients: it is probable the drug was brought without their knowing its origin; for it is certain the five gentlemen in Rome used perfumes.