Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
ichneumon

more about ichneumon

ichneumon


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ichneumon  \Ich*neu"mon\,  n.  [L.,  fr  Gr  ?,  lit.,  the  tracker; 
  so  called  because  it  hunts  out  the  eggs  of  the  crocodile,  fr 
  ?  to  track  or  hunt  after  fr  ?  track,  footstep.] 
  1.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  carnivorous  mammal  of  the  genus 
  {Herpestes},  and  family  {Viverrid[ae]}.  Numerous  species 
  are  found  in  Asia  and  Africa.  The  Egyptian  species({H. 
  ichneumon}),  which  ranges  to  Spain  and  Palestine,  is  noted 
  for  destroying  the  eggs  and  young  of  the  crocodile  as  well 
  as  various  snakes  and  lizards,  and  hence  was  considered 
  sacred  by  the  ancient  Egyptians.  The  common  species  of 
  India  ({H.  griseus}),  known  as  the  mongoose,  has  similar 
  habits  and  is  often  domesticated.  It  is  noted  for  killing 
  the  cobra. 
 
  2.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  hymenopterous  insect  of  the  family 
  {Ichneumonid[ae]},  of  which  several  thousand  species  are 
  known  belonging  to  numerous  genera. 
 
  Note:  The  female  deposits  her  eggs  upon  or  in  the  bodies  of 
  other  insects,  such  as  caterpillars,  plant  lice,  etc 
  The  larva  lives  upon  the  internal  tissues  of  the  insect 
  in  which  it  is  parasitic,  and  finally  kills  it  Hence 
  many  of  the  species  are  beneficial  to  agriculture  by 
  destroying  noxious  insects. 
 
  {Ichneumon  fly}.  See  {Ichneumon},  2. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ichneumon 
  n  :  North  African  mongoose;  in  ancient  times  thought  to  devour 
  crocodile  eggs  [syn:  {Herpestes  ichneumon}] 




more about ichneumon