THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1875. 4511 
lived a few days. This creature was very savage, and would not 
eat any food during the day, but at night it readily devoured pieces 
of raw flesh, and took a little bread and milk. 
The suricate is nearly allied to the civet, but is a considerably 
larger animal; the specimen we have measured is three and a half 
feet in length, of which the tail is eighteen inches. Its skin is 
covered with long coarse hair of a gray colour, shaded with green, 
with black bands on the hinder parts of the back; the tail bushy. 
This animal is not very common: it is said to confine itself more 
to the open country, where it lives in the deserted holes of the 
ant-bear, issuing forth at night and prowling about the cattle 
kraals in search of grubs imbedded in the dung. The Kafirs say 
it is very timid, and will not molest their fowls. 
The gray ichneumon is very abundant in the bush, where it takes 
up its abode under some rock near a running stream. In the early 
morning or evening it may be seen cautiously stealing forth to look 
for mice and reptiles, which are then in motion. It is most useful 
in destroying large numbers of reptiles, and on account of this 
habit it has often been tamed, and will effectually keep a house 
clear of all vermin. The curious instinct which leads the ichneumon 
to discover the buried eggs of the crocodile is well known. Even 
the formidable Indian bandicoot is not proof against the agility and 
strength of this animal. A relation of ours, when in India, confined 
these two animals in a room together, when, after a furious fight, the 
bandicoot had to succumb to the superiority of its antagonist. We 
caught one some time back; it was of a dark gray colour, and 
measured eighteen inches: it was very savage, and soon effected 
its escape. 
The banded mungos differs in its habits from the rest of its 
tribe, being gregarious and nocturnal. When quietly watching for 
game in the thick bush, the hunter is often disturbed by the rustling 
and low pig-like grunts of these little animals engaged in a foraging 
expedition in troops of twenty or thirty. Ifhe should then remain 
perfectly still he will have an interesting study; taking no notice 
of his presence, they will crowd up to his very feet, tearing up the 
earth in all directions to obtain the roots on which they principally 
subsist ; alarmed they disperse on all sides, squealing loudly. They 
seem to be very easily tamed; we saw one on board one of the 
Cape steamers, belonging to the mate; it was extremely docile, and 
would climb up on to his shoulder, where it would sit contentedly. 
