CATCHERS. 205 



ticular herb,, which acts as an antidote, is 

 also imaginary. I have seen several Mun- 

 gooses die almost immediately after being 

 bitten by snakes, and have of Jen observed 

 them after the bite to appear for a time sick, and 

 tumble about in the grass, without ever at- 

 tempting to eat any; perhaps they may some- 

 times eat grass, but I am confident it is not 

 of any particular kind, and they do it merely 

 as do^s, iu order to cause vomiting. As soon 

 as the sickness and effects of the poison are 

 abated, they renew the attack, and with more 

 apparent violence, but with considerably 

 more caution. 



/ 



It is curious to observe with what dexterity 

 these little animals conduct the fight, always 

 attacking the tail first, and by that means 

 disabling their enemy with the least danger 

 to themselves; they then approach nearer 

 and nearer, towards the head, taking off 

 a scale or two at a time, at last they seize 

 him behind the head and destroy him. I 

 have reason to think that the people who ex- 



