THE MUNGOOSE 



effects per pound of weight, or, as it is usually reck- 

 oned, per kilogram. This is not a true guide, as 

 the various species of animals differ considerably 

 in their natural inherent powers of resistance to 

 snake venom. The domestic cat or mungoose, for 

 instance, can survive a dosage of venom which would 

 kill any rabbit, fowl, turkey, or goose. 



All the species of mungooses are determined ene- 

 mies of snakes. In fact, they constitute the chief 

 enemies of these noxious reptiles. They not only 

 boldly attack and destroy adult snakes, but they 

 also prey largely on their young and eggs. The 

 latter are devoured in large numbers, as their 

 whereabouts is easily discovered by the mungoose, 

 whose powers of scent are acute. 



There are several kinds of mungooses in South 

 Africa. The average farmer shoots them at sight, 

 and if asked why he does this, he replies that they 

 are poultry thieves. The sportsman is also a sworn 

 enemy of the mungoose, because it levies toll upon 

 game birds, their eggs, young, and small game 

 animals such as hares. Now, let us reason the 

 matter out. A farmer, finding that one or more 

 mungooses in his neighbourhood are in the habit 

 of stealing his eggs and chickens, is justly indignant, 

 and regards the mungoose as an enemy. In this 

 instance he is perfectly justified in hunting them 

 down with dogs or otherwise destroying them. 

 Indeed, if he did not he would be a very careless 

 and easy-going man. 



IS 



