18/1. | LETTER FROM MR. G. W. DLS VfEUX. .'} 



(hat he feared that this animal would be more prone to destroy the 

 domestic fowls of the inhabitants than the much-detested serpents, 

 and had recommended that a sufficient reward should be offered for 

 the destruction of these snakes, instead of any of the above-men- 

 tioned plans. At the same time, Mr. Sclater had forwarded to Mr. 

 des Vceux a pair of the common Indian Mungoose {Herpestes 

 yriseus) from the Society's collection, in order that the experiment 

 as to whether these animals would destroy the Trigonocephalus 

 might be tried. 



A recent communication from Mr. des Vceux, dated Government 

 House, Santa Lucia, December 2nd, 18/0, gave the following details 

 of an encounter between one of these Mungooses and a snake of the 

 above species. 



" A * Rat-tail ' some twenty inches in length was produced in a 

 glass jar, the mouth of which was secured with a piece of linen. 

 The Mungoose was brought out and its cage opened ; the jar was held 

 out to it. As soon as it perceived the snake inside it became greatly 

 excited, its fur presenting the appearance of that of a cat with ' its 

 back up,' and its thick tail distended and bristling. It evinced 

 intense eagerness to get at the snake by running round and round 

 the jar, and tearing at the cloth over the opening with its teeth and 

 claws. On the covering being removed the serpent sprung out upon 

 the lawn, and advanced a few feet on the grass. The Mungoose at 

 once attacked it, endeavouring to fix its teeth and claws in the back; 

 but the snake seemed prepared for this style of attack, which he 

 avoided by drawing his body suddenly back. Rapidly recovering 

 himself, however, he darted at his active little enemy and apparently 

 succeeded in touching it with his fangs, for the Mnngoose with a 

 sharp cry sprung suddenly about a foot from the ground, but 

 alighting upon the back of the snake bit and tore at it savagely. A 

 short struggle ensued, the position of the snake not allowing him to 

 use his fangs; and upon the combatants separating, the snake 

 crawled a few yards away, and his opponent began running in an 

 apparently aimless manner about the lawn. This" lasted some three 

 or four minutes, during which time the snake crawled along with 

 difficulty, seeming anxious to get away, and then remained quite 

 still. Suddenly the Mungoose returned, seized the snake by the 

 middle of the body and dragged him into its cage which was standing 

 open. The Rat-tail did not give any signs of life after this opera- 

 tion. On gaining the cage the Mungoose proceeded leisurely to eat 

 the serpent, commencing with the head, its sharp teeth crunching 

 through bones and all. The cage was then closed, and every one 

 retired with very little expectation of seeing the plucky "little 

 animal alive again. 



" In about an hour's time the cage was reopened, and the hero of 

 this battle coolly trotted out, showing no signs of being at all the 

 worse for the fight. «. 



" Upon examining the interior of the cage, which was cpiite clean, 

 the only evidence which remained of the snake having been there 

 was a small piece of his tail not quite two inches in length, which 



