CHAP. XXIII.] SOME OTHER ANIMALS. 221 



bees-nests when found. On the whole, however, bears 

 importance to the agriculturist. 



The Jackal (Canis indicus ; aureus of authors) is commonly and 



widely distributed in all districts, usually occurring in small parties, 

 They arc- essentially sca\ engers, t. eding on carrion and offa 

 sorts, but they arc not averse to killing and eating an 

 animals which thej can catch. Chick letimes taken and 



I have seen a jackal catch a pair of drongos which were squabbling 

 on the ground, striking them down with alternate blows of its 

 fore-paws. Sweet cereals, such as maize and especially sugarcane. 

 are often attacked and considerable damage may lie done b 

 animals in cane-fields. In the Wynaad, it is said by Jerdon that 

 jackals devour considerable quantities of ripe coffee-berries, the 

 seeds passing through, well pulped, and being collected by coolies, 

 as it is asserted that seeds so found make the best coffee, a 

 circumstance due, as explained by Sterndale, to the fact that the 

 jackals select the best fruit. Besides damaging crops the jackal 

 - a permanent reservoir of the virus of rabies, so that he 

 cannot be considered either a respectable or desirable member of 

 society. 



The use of carefully-stretched wire-mesh fencing, as advocated 

 by Clouston (seep. 21 5) is said to keep jackals out of areas so 

 protected to some extent. Direct control-methods are difficult, 

 unless burrows can be located; but in the Plains of Southern India 

 the jackal often lies up in bushes in the daytime. Poisons are 

 often difficult to apply ; if Strychnine is used, an excessive quantity 

 should not be given, as such often induces vomiting and defeats 

 its object. 



Mungos mungo, the common Indian Mongoose, together with 

 several othei 3 found throughout Southern India, frequently 



in the vicinity of houses. All the spei ies feed rather indifferently 

 on any small animals or birds that they are able to catch, whilst 

 their partiality for snakes is well known. Though useful in this 

 : around houses they often do greal da nage t< 1 fowls or other 

 domesticated birds if they can obtain access to these. As they 

 prey on numerous insectivorous reptiles and birds it is doubtful 

 whether these animals are really so beneficial nmonly 



supposed and perhaps their value may be . - neutral. 



The Indian Palm-civel {Paradoxurus niger) is commonly called 

 the"toddj cat 'in many districts on account of its fondness for 

 the contents of toddy-pots, and is often caught by the toddy-drawers 

 asleep in the daytime in palm-trees. Its normal ton,! 

 small animals of all sorts and fruit, so that it is sometimes 

 destructive to poultry and ganl 



