NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



Muishond, which, by the way, is known to many as 

 a Polecat. It was trotting along with its nose held 

 high. Presently it became more cautious in its 

 movements, and depressing its head, elongating 

 its body and thrusting its tail out behind, it stealthily 

 approached a clump of grass in which a small shrub 

 was struggling for existence. Pausing for a second, 

 it darted into the herbage, and on the instant a 

 Hare shot forth and bounded off at full speed and 

 passed within a few paces of me, with the Muishond 

 hanging on to its side, and its body bumping along 

 over the ground. After racing for about a hundred 

 paces, the Hare stretched itself upon the ground and 

 screamed in an agony o^ terror. Before I could 

 reach it, the Muishond released its grip on the side 

 of the Hare's body and buried its sharp teeth in its 

 victim's throat. Arriving on the scene of the tragedy, 

 I shouted to attract the attention of the Muishond, 

 thinking he would run off in alarm. The rascally 

 little fellow, without even releasing his hold on the 

 Hare, turned his back upon me, switched up his 

 tail and sprayed my clothing with his enemy- 

 repelling secretion. The smell was so nauseating 

 that I became dazed and staggered backwards, and 

 was obliged to cast my coat away before I could 

 obtain even a measure of relief. Although angry 

 with the little fellow, I admired him for his bold- 

 ness and left him in peace, for the Hare was his 

 legitimate prey, and he had hunted it down in a 

 thorough sportsmanlike fashion. 



196 



