NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 
present known it does not inhabit any other parts 
of South Africa. 
This mungoose is an alert little creature, crisp and 
quick in its movements. Its favourite haunts are 
the bush-veld and rocky vegetation-covered hill- 
sides and valleys. In fact, wherever there is a 
sufficiency of natural cover and an abundance of 
rats, mice, and insects, there you will in all likeli- 
hood find this mungoose. They are invariably 
seen in pairs, and unlike most of their cousins, 
they may be seen abroad by day as well as by night. 
They love to bask in the sunshine in the forest 
glades, on beaten tracks, and other exposed situa- 
tions. When alarmed they instantly steal off at 
a rapid trot into cover, with body elongated and 
head lowered. When very much frightened 
they gallop off at a rapid pace. I have frequently 
sat concealed in some dense scrub and watched 
these graceful little creatures at work and at play. 
So closely does the coloration of their fur blend 
with that of their surroundings, and so noiselessly 
do they creep along, that the rats and mice on which 
they so largely feed are easily captured. Ground 
birds, their eggs and young, form a welcome addi- 
tion to the diet of this mungoose; and insects 
are at alltimes devoured. ‘The common grasshopper 
is a favourite food, and when the Migratory Locust 
is abundant it is greedily devoured. 
The only harm which this little mungoose does 
to humanity is by reason of its fondness for chickens. 
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