224 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
smaller than a rat. It travelled with me on horseback in an empty 
holster, or in a pocket, or up my sleeve ; and afterwards, when my duties 
as a settlement officer took me out into camp, “ Pips” was my constant 
companion. He knew perfectly well when I was going to shoot a bird 
for him. He would stand up on his hind legs when he saw me present 
the gun, and rush for the bird when it fell ; he had, however, no notion 
of retrieving, but would scamper off with his prey to devour it at leisure. 
He was a most fearless little fellow, and once attacked a big greyhound, 
who beat a retreat. In arage his body would swell to nearly twice its 
size from the erection of the hair, yet I had him under such perfect 
subjection that I had only to hold up my finger to him when he was 
about to attack anything, and he would desist. I heard a great noise 
one day outside my room and found Master “‘ Pips,” attacking a fine 
male specimen I had of the great bustard, Aufodotis Edwardsii, and had 
just seized it by the throat. I rescued the bird, but it died of its 
injuries. ‘Through the carelessness of one of my servants he was lost 
one day in a heavy brushwood jungle some miles from my camp, and I 
quite gave up all hopes of recovering my pet. Next day, however, in 
tracking some antelope, we happened to cross the route taken by my 
servants, when we heard a familiar little yelp, and down froma tree we 
were under rushed “ Pips.” He went to England with me after that, 
and was the delight of all the sailors on board, for his accomplishments 
were varied ; he could sit on a chair with a cap on his head, shoulder 
arms ; ready, present, fire !—turn somersaults, jump, and do various other 
little tricks. 
From watching him I observed many little habits belonging to these 
animals. He was excessively clean, and after eating would pick his 
teeth with his claws in a most absurd manner. I do not know whether 
a mungoose in a wild state will eat carrion, but he would not touch 
anything tainted, and, though very fond of freshly-cooked game, would 
turn up his nose at high partridge or grouse. He was very fond of eggs, 
and, holding them in his fore-paws, would crack a little hole at the small 
end, out of which he would suck the contents. He was a very good 
ratter, and also killed many snakes against which I pitted him. His 
way seemed to be to tease the snake into darting at him, when, with 
inconceivable rapidity, he would pounce on the reptile’s head. He 
seemed to know instinctively which were the poisonous ones, and acted 
with corresponding caution. I tried him once with some sea-snakes 
(ydrophis palamoides), which are poisonous, but he could get no fight 
out of them, and crunched their heads off one after the other. I do not 
believe in the mungoose being proof against snake poison, or in the 
antidote theory. Their extreme agility prevents their being bitten, and 
the stiff rigid hair, which is excited at such times, and a thick loose skin, 
are an additional protection. I think it has been proved that if the 
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