THE LIFE OF MAMMALS 
however, but snakes, lizards, ground birds, and even poultry. At one 
time snakes had become so rare that they were regarded as practically ex- 
terminated, but since 1896 they are apparently on the increase. The 
ground doves and other terrestrial birds, partly, at least, by change of habit, 
are also adapting themselves to this new enemy, and their extermination 
is no longer to be feared. At the present time the mungoos is common and 
very tame in most parts of the island, and in many other islands, and is 
generally looked on with favor.” A similar experience was had in Porto 
Rico and Hawaii, and the laws of the United States now prohibit the im- 
portation of a single one of these animals. 
As a skillful conqueror of venomous serpents the mungoos 
has attracted attention since ancient times. Aristotle and Pliny 
declared that the Egyptian mungoos first coated its body with 
mud, and in that armor could defy the serpent. Old Topsell *” 
informs us that the ichneumon burrows in the sand, and “when 
the aspe espyeth her threatening rage, presently turning about 
her taile, provoketh the ichneumon to combate, and with an 
open mouth and lofty head doth enter the list, to her owne perdi- 
tion. For the ichncumon being nothing afraid of this great 
bravado, receiveth the encounter, and taking the head of the 
aspe in his mouth biteth that off to prevent the casting out of 
her poison.” 
It is a widespread belicf in India that a certain herb is eaten 
by the mungoos when wounded in a bout with a cobra, and this 
notion has been carried to the West Indies, where the little 
creature attacks the fer-de-lance; but it has no foundation in 
fact. The mungoos is not always eager for the fight, nof in- 
variably successful, being sometimes killed and swallowed by 
the snake; but ordinarily it is victorious through its amazing 
activity and skill, aided by the thick fur which stands straight 
out when it is enraged, so that the serpent’s fangs rarely hit the 
small body at the center of the restless, hairy mass in front of 
him. The mungoos waits, alert and tense, until the snake 
strikes, then dodges, and before the reptile can recover pounces 
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