47 o CARNIVORES. 



mungoose (H. mungo), which belongs to a group of several species characterised 

 by their uniform coloration, there being no stripe on the neck and no black tip to 

 the tail. It is a comparatively large species, with rather long hair, of which the 

 general colour is grey or rufous ; the length of the head and body varying from 

 15 to 18 inches, and that of the tail from 14 to 15 inches. This species is found 

 throughout peninsular India, from the Himalaya to Cape Comorin, and also occurs 

 in Ceylon, although unknown in the countries to the eastward of the Bay of 

 Bengal. The common Indian mungoose, writes Mr. Blanford, " is found in hedge- 

 rows, thickets, groves of trees, cultivated fields, banks of streams, and broken 

 bushy ground, but not commonly in dense forests. It is often found about houses. 

 It lives and breeds in holes dug by itself. Very little appears to be known of its 

 breeding habits. It is often seen in pairs. The young are three or four in number, 

 and are produced in the spring. The food of this animal is varied. It lives 

 principally upon rats and mice, snakes and lizards, such birds as it can capture, 

 eggs and insects ; but it eats fruit at times. The stomach of one killed near 

 Secunderabad contained, according to M'Master, a quail, a small wasp's nest, a 

 lizard, a number of insects, and part of a custard-apple." In disposition this animjal, 

 for its size, is decidedly fierce and bloodthirsty. Jerdon says that "not unfre- 

 quently it gets access to tame pigeons, rabbits, or poultry, and commits great 

 havoc, sucking the blood only of several. I have often seen it," he adds, " make 

 a dash into a verandah where some cages of mynas, parrakeets, etc., were daily 

 placed, and endeavour to tear the birds from their cages." 



In spite of its natural fierceness, the mungoose is easily tamed, and forms a 

 gentle and affectionate pet. Tamed mungooses are largely carried about in India 

 by snake-charmers and other wandering showmen. The following excellent account 

 of a tame mungoose of this species (which ultimately died from grief at the absence 

 of its master) is given by Mr. R. A. Sternclale : " I got it," writes the narrator, 

 " whilst on active service during the Indian Mutiny, when it was a wee thing, 

 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 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 run 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 a rage 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 ' Pips ' attacking a fine male 

 specimen I had of the great bustard (Eupodotis edwardsi), which he had just 

 seized by the throat. I rescued the bird, but it died of its injuries. Through the 

 carelessness of my servants, he was lost one day in a heavy brushwood jungle some 

 miles from iny camp, and I quite gave up all hope 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 from a tree we were 

 under rushed ' Pips.' He went to England with me after that, and was the delight 



