THE MUNGOOSE 
effects per pound of weight, or, as it is usually reck- 
oned, per kilogram. This is not a true guide, as 
the various species of animals differ considerably 
in their natural inherent powers of resistance to 
snake venom. The domestic cat or mungoose, for 
instance, can survive a dosage of venom which would 
kill any rabbit, fowl, turkey, or goose. 
All the species of mungooses are determined ene- 
mies of snakes. In fact, they constitute the chief 
‘enemies of these noxious reptiles. They not only 
boldly attack and destroy adult snakes, but they 
also prey largely on their young and eggs. ‘The 
latter are devoured in large numbers, as their 
whereabouts is easily discovered by the mungoose, 
whose powers of scent are acute. 
There are several kinds of mungooses in South 
Africa. The average farmer shoots them at sight, 
and if asked why he does this, he replies that they 
are poultry thieves. The sportsman is also a sworn 
enemy of the mungoose, because it levies toll upon 
game birds, their eggs, young, and small game 
animals such as hares. Now, let us reason the 
matter out. A farmer, finding that one or more 
mungooses in his neighbourhood are in the habit 
of stealing his eggs and chickens, is justly indignant, 
and regards the mungoose as an enemy. In this 
instance he is perfectly justified in hunting them 
down with dogs or otherwise destroying them. 
Indeed, if he did not he would be a very careless 
and easy-going man. 
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