28 



THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Duels with Snakes. 



The following instance will illustrate how the Mungoose attacks 

 and destroys snakes. The Mungoose {Herpestes pulverulenius) 

 manoeuvred around the snake, and the instant he saw his oppor- 

 tunity, closed in on it, and with hghtning-hke rapidity seized 

 the reptile in his jaws, crushed its vertebrae, and sprang away 

 again. So quick were his movements, my eyes could hardly 

 register the details. After eyeing the snake with his little, keen, 

 black, wicked-looking eyes for a period, he was evidently satisfied 







ftS^JT, 



Fig. i6.— The Muishondor Stink Cat (Ictonyx oapinsis), who boldly attacks, kills and devours 

 the most venomous of snakes. 



the snake was incapable of further fight, as it no doubt was, for 

 it was apparent that its body was paralysed by the injury to 

 the backbone. He again ran at it, but this time retained his 

 hold, and having mangled the head, chewed it from the body and 

 swallowed it. Being then satisfied that the dangerous part of his 

 foe was safely disposed of, he leisurely dined off the remainder of 

 the body. Removing the Mungoose, I replaced it with a hungry, 

 Slender-tailed Meercat {Suricaia suricatia), and introduced a 

 large Puff Adder. The Meercat darted about nervously for a 

 while, ran quickly forward, dodged the stroke of the snake, and 

 seizing it by the neck, crushed the vertebrae. Then the Meercat 

 dehberately nipped it in various parts down the spine, before 



