274 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
This is, as far as known to me, the largest specimen of the species yet recorded, 
It was killed at Paunda, near village Kandholi, Dehra Dun (2,700 feet) U. P, 
N. C. CHATTERJEE, 
B. Se., EF. E.'S. 
Denra Don, 21st April 1921. 
No. X.—-THE HABITS OF THE GREY MONGOOSE, 
I presume that the idea that the mongoose is immune to the venom of snakes 
or that it instinctively recognises and eats a vegetable antidote (though how 
the eating of anything could cure so rapidly acting a blood poison was never 
explained) is now quite exploded. It would seem probable that this animal is 
immune to the poison of scorpions and centipedes however. At least so it 
appears to three of us who have been watching the operations of a tame mongoose 
of late. As she (the object of our observations is feminine) has not yet been 
offered every possible article of the first of the two great classes Heine sub-divided 
nature into: ‘‘ things one can eat and things one cannot eat ’’, we are not 
prepared to say definitely what is her favourite food. Though she is not 
more than 3 months old she has killed and eaten several frogs (she invariably 
seizes them by the head, so that they are unable to protest vocally), at least one 
rat (and devoured another freshly killed) and several scorpions and centipedes, 
besides insects galore. Her predilection seems to be for frogs, rats and scorpicns, 
and also nice fat, luscious grasshoppers or locusts, and this she demonstrates 
by a continuous growling while eating a morsel she specially appreciates, even 
when there is no one near to interfere. When attacking either a scorpion or 
centipede she takes no precaution to avoid being stung. We were able to watch 
one affair with a scorpion fairly closely. The scorpion was brought in un- 
damaged and placed onthe floor. The mongoose immediately seized it about 
midbody so that nearly the whole of the tail was free and projecting from one 
side of her mouth. She then carried it about without causing it any serious 
injury as was seen when she dropped it and started playing with it as a cat 
would with a mouse, while the unfortunate scorpion attempted to seek safety. 
While the scorpion was carried in the mongoose’s mouth as described we noticed 
that its sting was pressed against the beast’s cheek. Whether the sting actually 
pierced the skin we could not tell, of course, but it had every appearance of 
having done so and there seems no valid reason why it should not. The 
mongoose, however, showed no sign of discomfort either then or afterwards. 
When she had finally eaten her prey, including the poison bulb and the sting 
which she seems to consider a bonne bouche, I carefully examined the cheek 
but could perceive neither puncture, swelling nor soreness. 
The mengoose is very friendly and playful with the dogs of the household 
and with all humans. The cat, however, though she once knew and liked 
another mongoose, will not let this one approach her and seems afraid. She 
bolts if the mongoose comes near and the latter erects her hair so as to appear 
twice her size. 
Before meeting this exemplar I was not aware that a mongoose could purr like 
a cat and for the same reason. 
C. E. C. FISCHER. 
TRIPLICANE, Mapras, 24th July 1921. 
No. XI.—THE EFFECT OF A SCORPION’S STING ON A TERRIER. 
At 10 p.m., on the 5th June, my dog, a big, smooth-haired fox terrier was stung 
by a scorpion. I applied Scrubbs’ ammonia to his foot within a few minute 
of his being stung, but it did not give him any relief. He yelped or howled almost 
without ceasing for an hour and nearly went mad with the pain. 
