30 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



starting to eat it, evidently with the intention of smashing the 

 backbone and thus preventing the snake from wriggUng about, 



1 then experimented with a Striped Muishond (Ictonyx cajyen- 

 sis) . I placed a Cape Cobra in its cage. The Muishond instantly 

 ran into a corner and faced the snake, which was on guard with 

 raised body and hood expanded, ready to do battle with his foe. 

 Suddenly the Muishond darted into another corner of the cage. 

 Like a flash the snake swerved and again faced him. The 

 Muishond repeated the manoeuvre, but the snake was not to be 

 flanked. He faced his foe ever}^ time. Finding these tactics 

 of no avail, the Muishond began badgering the snake by snapping 

 and snarling at him. At last the reptile, in a fury, lunged fiercely 

 forvvard. His intended victim nimbly sprang aside, thus avoiding 

 the blow, and before the snake could recover himself the Muishond 

 seized him by the back of the neck, and holding on tenaciously, 

 inflicted serious damage by lacerating his victim's flesh. His 

 endeavour was, evidently, to crush the snake's backbone, which 

 he very soon did. He seemed to know quite well that the Cobra 

 was now helpless, for he let go and rested a few moments. Then, 

 seizing the reptile's head, he chewed it up and swallowed it, 

 and then satisfied his appetite on a portion of the body. 



Hearing a grunting noise near a mimosa tree, under which 

 a friend and I had camped out for the night in the Natal bush- 

 veld, we took a small bull's-eye lantern, and proceeded cautiously 

 to investigate. Presently a shrill, ear-splitting yell broke the 

 stillness of the night. Flashing the hght of my lantern in 

 the direction of the noise, there, within two yards of us, was a 

 striped Muishond, with his paws firmly planted on an adult 

 Black-necked Cobra {Naia nigricollis). The Muishond stood 

 facing us menacingly, daring us to approach, and making the 

 forest ring with his sharp penetrating yells, launched out at 

 us at intervals. Thinking he had intimidated us sufliciently, 

 he began, with a succession of low growls and snarls, to eat 

 the still-living snake, eyeing us suspiciously wnth his keen 

 little eyes all the time. 



After satisfying our curiosity, we retired and left the plucky 

 little fellow to finish his well-earned meal in peace. 



I have allowed Meercats {Suricaia siiricatta), Striped 

 Muislionds [Ictonyx capensis), Qxey Mungooses [Mimgos pulveru- 

 lenius), and the Large Grey Mungoose [Mtingos caffer) to be 



