THE STRIPED MUISHOND OR STINK CAT 



glands, and when the muishond is attacked it turns 

 its back to the foe and discharges several jets of 

 this pungent scent, which is so nauseating that 

 few animals can tolerate it, and instantly flee. 

 Occasionally a dog is bold enough to rush in and 

 attack a muishond notwithstanding the dreadful 

 smell. The fluid is stored up in these anal glands 

 and can be discharged at will. 



Fear is often expressed lest rabbits might become 

 a scourge in South Africa, as they have done in 

 Australia. This cannot possibly happen so long 

 as the muishond, mungoose, v^ld cat, and Eagle- 

 owl inhabit the country. The striped muishond 

 alone is capable of keeping their numbers in check. 

 However, because muishonds sometimes cause de- 

 struction among poultry, and eat the smaller species 

 of game birds and animals, the hand of practically 

 every colonist is against them. In self-defence, 

 muishonds in the vicinity of the dwelling of the 

 poultry breeder must be destroyed, but it is a foolish 

 policy to shoot and otherwise do them to death 

 away out in the wilds where they are fulfilling their 

 mission of maintaining the balance of Nature. 

 Plagues of destructive insects, animals, and in- 

 fectious disease have, in the past, ravaged 

 various countries through sportsmen indiscrimi- 

 nately destroying the native carnivorous animals 

 and birds of prey, because they kill and devour a 

 percentage of the creatures which he desires to 

 slay and eat himself. 



167 



