I 2 8 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



and should therefore not be wantonly destroyed ; but 

 any one who would release this creature when caught 

 in a trap must be prepared for all kinds of eventualities. 



POLECATS. There are two genera of polecats, or 

 skunks, in South Africa, each containing but one species, 

 The first, known as the Striped Muishond, attains an 

 average total length of about twenty inches, eight of 

 which are taken up by the rather bushy tail. It is a 

 handsome little animal, jet black in colour, having four 

 white stripes from between the ears to the root of the 

 tail, and three white spots on the forehead and temples. 

 It is distributed throughout central and South Africa. 

 It is solitary in habit, and feeds on rats, mice, and such 

 small mammals, birds, frogs, lizards, snakes, and eggs of all 

 kinds, besides locusts and other insects. When in danger 

 it has the power of emitting from its glands a very strong 

 and tenacious odour. It often shams dead when attacked 

 by a dog. Though, generally speaking, nocturnal, I have 

 sometimes seen these little animals come out of their 

 holes in daylight. The tail is carried more or less per- 

 pendicularly while moving, and when the owner is irritated 

 the hairs on it are spread out, and bristle stiffly. The 

 Striped Muishond has the same method of springing 

 sharply from all four feet, and in any direction, so 

 characteristic of the mungooses. When caught young 

 it becomes very tame, and makes an interesting 

 pet. 



THE SNAKE MUISHOND. This species, though much 

 smaller, is very similar in its bodily markings to the 

 last, but the whole top of the head is yellowish white. 

 In general shape and size it is weasel-like, and ap- 

 parently in food and habits somewhat resembles that 

 animal. 



With the exception of one member of the marine 



