THE STRIPED MUISHOND OR STINK CAT 
glands, and when the muishond is attacked it turns 
its back to the foe and discharges several jets of 
this pungent scent, which is so nauseating that 
few animals can tolerate it, and instantly flee. 
Occasionally a dog is bold enough to rush in and 
attack a muishond notwithstanding the dreadful 
smell. The fluid is stored up in these anal glands 
and can be discharged at will. 
Fear is often expressed lest rabbits might become 
a scourge in South Africa, as they have done in 
Australia. This cannot possibly happen so long 
as the muishond, mungoose, wild cat, and Eagle- 
owl inhabit the country. The striped muishond 
alone is capable of keeping their numbers in check. 
However, because muishonds sometimes cause de- 
struction among poultry, and eat the smaller species 
of game birds and animals, the hand of practically 
every colonist is against them. In self-defence, 
muishonds in the vicinity of the dwelling of the 
poultry breeder must be destroyed, but it is a foolish 
policy to shoot and otherwise do them to death 
away out in the wilds where they are fulfilling their 
mission of maintaining the balance of Nature. 
Plagues of destructive insects, animals, and in- 
fectious disease have, in the past, ravaged 
various countries through sportsmen indiscrimi- 
nately destroying the native carnivorous animals 
and birds of prey, because they kill and devour a 
percentage of the creatures which he desires to 
slay and eat himself. 
167 
