28 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
manoeuvred around the snake, and the instant he saw his oppor- 
tunity, made his spring, and with lightning-like rapidity seized 
the reptile in his jaws, crushed its vertebre, and sprang away 
again. So quick were his movements, my eyes could hardly 
register the details. After eyeing the snake with his little, keen, 
black, wicked-looking eyes for a period, he was evidently satisfied 
the snake was incapable of further fight, as it evidently was, for 
it was apparent that its body was paralyzed by the injury to the 
backbone. He again leapt upon it, but this time retained his 
hold, and having mangled the head, chewed it from the body and 
swallowed it. Being then satisfied that the dangerous part of his 
foe was safely disposed of, he leisurely dined off the remainder of 
Fic. 15.—The Muishond or Stink Cat (Zorilla striata), who boldly attacks, kills and devours 
the most venomous of snakes. 
the body. Removing the Mungoose, I replaced it with a hungry, 
Slender-tailed Meercat (Suricata tetradactyla), and introduced a 
large Puff Adder. The Meercat darted about nervously for a 
while, ran quickly forward, dodged the stroke of the snake, and 
seizing it by the neck, crushed the vertebra. Then the Meercat 
deliberately nipped it in various parts down the spine, before 
starting to eat it, evidently with the intention of smashing the 
backbone and thus preventing the snake from wriggling about. 
A Striped Muishond (Zorilla striata) was then experimented 
