SNAKE-POISON LITERATURE. 83 



too near when the snake bit it on the shoulder, 

 upon which "it seized the snake by the neck and 

 held fast for fifteen seconds, the snake all the 

 while wreathing round the mangoose's limlis. 

 The instant they were separated, the mangoose 

 fell down on its side as if dead." It died in two 

 hours and a quarter, and the snake in eight hours. 



I have not seen it recorded that the mangoose 

 gnaws out the fangs of the snake, but it is a fact, 

 and has been witnessed by several gentlemen. * 



A mangoose was let loose in a room with a The Mangooae 



_ ^ and Cobra — 



cobra. The latter was gliding about the room, " fig"- 

 when the mangoose went cautiously up to it, and 

 slightly touched it with its nose ; the snake hissed 

 gently, lifted its head, but still went gliding' 

 on. The mangoose again followed as if deter- 

 mined to make the snake lift its head, for the 

 mangoose is far too wise to attack the snake 

 while its head is on the ground. The snake at 

 once turned round, balanced itself to strike and 

 began hissing; it darted two or three times, the 

 little mangoose just stepping on one side to avoid 

 the blow, its eyes fixed intently on the enemy, 

 its nose pointed and nostrils expanded, and hair 



* This has since been uoutirmed by AVall. 



