NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



present known it does not inhabit any other parts 

 of South Africa. 



This mungoose is an alert httle creature, crisp and 

 quick in its movements. Its favourite haunts are 

 the bush-veld and rocky vegetation-covered hill- 

 sides and valleys. In fact, v^herever there is a 

 sufficiency of natural cover and an abundance of 

 rats, mice, and insects, there you will in all likeli- 

 hood find this mungoose. They are invariably 

 seen in pairs, and unlike most of their cousins, 

 they may be seen abroad by day as well as by night. 

 They love to bask in the sunshine in the forest 

 glades, on beaten tracks, and other exposed situa- 

 tions. When alarmed they instantly steal off at 

 a rapid trot into cover, with body elongated and 

 head lowered. When very much frightened 

 they gallop oft at a rapid pace. I have frequently 

 sat concealed in some dense scrub and watched 

 these graceful little creatures at work and at play. 



So closely does the coloration of their fur blend 

 with that of their surroundings, and so noiselessly 

 do they creep along, that the rats and mice on which 

 they so largely feed are easily captured. Ground 

 birds, their eggs and young, form a welcome addi- 

 tion to the diet of this mungoose ; and insects 

 are at all times devoured. The common grasshopper 

 is a favourite food, and when the Migratory Locust 

 is abundant it is greedily devoured. 



The only harm which this little mungoose does 

 to humanity is by reason of its fondness for chickens. 



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