\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.