THE MUNGUS. 235 



reports, when it is bitten by a poisonous serpent, it digs up a very bitter 

 root named the Mungo-root, which it eats, and then with renewed vigor 

 resumes its combat with its foe. European observers who have watched 

 the animal when it leaves the field of battle, say it eats either grass or 

 any other herb in the neighborhood. An eye-witness writes : " The 

 snake — a Spectacled Snake — was a yard and a half long ; the Mungus 

 attacked it immediately, and a terrible struggle ensued. At the end of 

 five minutes the snake struck the Mungus with its poison-fang. The 

 animal fell, lay for some time like a dead thing, and foamed at the mouth ; 

 then suddenly rose and rushed into the jungle. In twenty minutes it 

 returned and renewed the attack with greater spirit than ever, and killed 

 the snake within si.\ minutes." 



In 1 87 1 the governor of one of the West India Islands consulted the 

 Zoological Society of London how to get rid of the terrible Lance-snakes. 

 Mr. Sciater recommended tiie Mungus, and sent two living ones to Santa 

 Lucia. On their arrival Governor Des Voeux resolved to try their 

 powers. A snake was brought in in a glass bottle ; the Mungus at once 

 displayed great animation, and tried to open the glass bottle by pulling 

 out the rags which served as a stopper. He succeeded ; the snake came 

 out, the Mungus sprang at it, the snake drew back quickly, then struck like 

 lightning, and the Mungus leaped into the air screaming. But it at once 

 rushed afresh to the attack, and after a few minutes dragged the serpent 

 to its cage, where it devoured its captive at leisure. After the lapse of an 

 Lour nothing but the tip of the reptile's tail was left, and the Mungus was 

 Ho well as ever. He suffered no inconvenience from the poison. 



The Ichneumon, Hcrpestcs Ichneumon (Plate XII), has been famous for 

 ages. Herodotus relates that the Ichneumons were embalmed and en- 

 tombed in the shrines of every city of old Egypt. Strabo affirms that it 

 never attacks its foes — the serpents — without calling its companions to its 

 aid. -lElian maintains that, before going into the battle, it rolls itself in the 

 mud, and then dries this coating in the sun till it can resist the serpent's 

 fangs. Pliny asserts that the crocodile sleeps with its ponderous jaws 

 wide open, and that the Ichneumon seizes this opportunity to jump into 

 its mouth, eat its way to the heart, and then out of the monster's belly. 

 The Roman writer adds that the Ichneumon creeps about till it finds 

 the hidden eggs of the crocodile and eats them all, thus deserving the 

 gratitude of mankind. All these pretty stories unfortunately are devoid 

 all foundation in fact. 



