CAPE POLECAT 37 



Elizabeth Museum, was of an extremely destructive 

 nature, gnawing his way out of several cages, and on 

 one occasion killing a number of white rats, guinea-pigs- 

 and rabbits, but eating none. 



Genus ZORILLA. 



Zorilla striata (Ictonyx capensis). Cape Polecat. 

 Stink Muishond. 



This animal is rather slender in form, with a long and 

 somewhat bushy tail. It is black in colour, with four 

 longitudinal white stripes from the back of the head to 

 the root of the tail. There is a white spot on the fore- 

 head, and one on each cheek. Length of head and body 

 about 15 inches ; tail 12 inches. 



The Muishond is fairly common all over South Africa 

 and is nocturnal in habits, spending its time during the 

 day in holes, clefts amongst rocks, &c., and feeding at 

 dusk and during the night upon birds and small 

 mammals, such as rats and mice, lizards and frogs ; it is 

 also fond of stealing eggs and poultry from the farmyard. 

 It has a habit of emitting a disagreeable odour from the 

 anal glands when in any way disturbed, hence its in- 

 elegant but appropriate Boer cognomen. 



I have often heard it said that dogs will not attack the 

 Polecat, but such is not strictly the truth. Many dogs, 

 especially sporting dogs, will not do so ; but I have 

 known terriers and on one occasion a pointer make 

 short work of one of these animals. The dog is, how- 

 ever, not fit for human company for a day or two after 

 this, on account of the clinging nature of the odour. 

 Tame examples when undisturbed show no signs of this 

 smell, and I have had several of them as pets. They 

 were tame and harmless little animals, following me 



