THE MUNGOOSE 
certain anatomical differences, one of which is that 
in this species the palate is flat, whereas in Meller’s 
Mungoose it is concave. 
It occurs from Kaffraria through Natal, Trans- 
vaal, and northwards into East Africa. In Natal 
it is common in the coastal districts. The Banded 
Mungoose lives in small communities, usually 
in the vicinity of rivers, in burrows, and often 
in the old deserted heaps of termites. Their 
ways and habits are very similar to those of the 
common meerkat of South Africa. Like the meer- 
kat they have a habit of sitting up on their haunches 
and peering round in a most inquisitive manner; 
or standing contentedly basking in ‘the sun with 
their legs apart to allow the sun’s rays to strike the 
abdomen. Their voice, too, resembles that of the 
meerkat, for, when pleased or desiring to attract 
attention, they give vent to a plaintive twittering 
or trilling succession of sounds. When irritated 
or alarmed they bark somewhat like a small dog. 
Like the meerkat they diligently scratch the ground 
in search of insects, which they devour greedily. 
They also eat roots, berries, seeds, tender shoots, 
and sweet bark. Lizards, snails, slugs, and other 
small creatures also form a portion of their diet. 
The shells of snails. and eggs they smash by taking 
them between the forepaws and dashing them 
back behind their hind feet against some hard 
substance such as a stone or wall. 
In captivity the Banded Mungoose is as amusing, 
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