470 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 animal, 
for its size, is decidedly fierce and bloodthirsty. Jerdon says that “not untfre- | 
quently it gets access to tame pigeons, rabbits, or poultry, and commits great 
havoe, 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, ete, 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 m 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. Sterndale:—“TI 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 (Hupodotis edwards:), 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 my 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 
