Ichneuʹmon

An animal resembling a weasel, and well worthy of being defended by priest and prince in Egypt, as it feeds on serpents, mice, and other vermin, and is especially fond of crocodilesʹ eggs, which it scratches out of the sand. According to legend, it steals into the mouths of crocodiles when they gape, and eats out their bowels. The ichneumon is called “Pharaoh’s rat.”