DUELS WITH SNAKES. 31 
in time, according to the size of the snake, its species, its con- 
dition, time of year, or quantity of venom artificially injected. 
A Grey Mungoose, which I had in captivity, once fought and 
killed a Puff Adder. However, the snake, with a last expiring 
effort, lacerated the lip of its foe with one of its fangs. The 
Mungoose dropped the snake, retired to a corner, and after a 
short time began to mope. It died in seven hours. The reason 
that it lingered so long was because only a small quantity of 
venom had been discharged into the wound. 
-On another occasion a Puff Adder was introduced into the 
cage containing a Striped Muishond. The Muishond made a few 
feints, then darted.at the snake before he could recover himself, 
aiming a terrific blow at the adder. Although the Muishond 
crushed the snake’s head in its sharp teeth, immediately the 
reptile was released it struck out blindly and bit the Muishond 
on the skull. The latter retired to a corner and faced the snake, 
but died in forty-five minutes after. 
The Rev. Father Bruno, of Kolbe, Cape Colony, informed 
me that he and some friends witnessed a fight between a Cape 
Cobra (Naza flava) and a Muishond. The latter circled round the 
snake, who stood with reared body and expanded hood, after 
the manner of all cobras when irritated. Eventually the snake 
seemed to get bewildered or tired with turning round so frequently 
and at such short intervals, for a cobra will never allow attack 
in the rear if he can avoid it. Lunging forward, he failed to 
recover himself in time, and the Muishond had him by the neck 
and quickly shattered his backbone with its sharp teeth. As 
in the former instance, it first ate the snake’s head, and then 
dined off the body. 
When in Natal I possessed an old Tom Cat, who was a mighty 
Nimrod. He scoured the neighbouring forest nightly. When- 
ever he made a capture of anything worth while, the old fellow, 
who was a great pet of mine, came scrambling in through my 
open bedroom window and, after laying his prize upon the floor, 
he would set up a musical crooning noise, like cats do when they 
call their kittens. He seemed quite pleased when I got out of 
bed, lit the lamp, and inspected his prize. Many a time I have 
obtained really good specimens for my collections in this way. 
Sometimes he would bring in snakes still writhing and wriggling. 
Just before dusk one evening, I was wandering round with old 
