THE OTTER.
These animals are, in general, rather more than three feet long from the point of their nose to the tip of their tail. Their legs are very short, but they are strong and muscular. The colour of their body is mostly of a deep brown.
Otters live chiefly on the banks of rivers or brooks. They make the entrance to their burrows under water, and work upwards, forming several lodges, that they may have a retreat in case of high floods; they end by making a small hole for the purpose of admitting air, but they take care that this hole shall come out in the midst of some thick bush, so that they may not be discovered. They are easily tamed, and are kept by many fishermen, being found of great service. The fishermen send them into the water, and they will often drive the fish into their nets, and sometimes bring out the larger ones in their mouths.
THE ICHNEUMON.
This curious little animal is a native of Egypt, Barbary, and the Cape of Good Hope. It is, in general, about the size of a common cat, but rather longer in its body, and shorter in its legs. Its colour is a pale reddish grey. It is sometimes streaked with a variety of colours, in the same manner as a domestic cat. While eating, it sits upright, and uses its fore feet like hands.
THE ICHNEUMON.
This animal is the boldest and most useful of the weasel kind. It is of very great service in Egypt, and indeed is almost worshipped there, for it destroys a great quantity of the eggs of the crocodile, and will even attack the crocodile itself. Rats, mice, birds, serpents, and lizards become its prey; and it will even seize the most poisonous reptiles, and if bitten by them, it is said to be able to cure itself by the use of some herb. The Egyptians esteem it so much, that they keep it in their houses, as we do the cat.
THE END.