94 
A NA T UR A LIST ON THE PROWL. 
The burrowing beetle too has its enemies. Early in 
the morning I often come upon the large Stripe-necked 
Mungoose ( Herpestes vitticollis) wandering about open 
patches in the forest, where cattle are wont to graze. 
Every now and then he stops, digs fiercely and pulls out 
something, which he crunches as a wicked boy crunches 
sugar- plums. He is in a suit of “ pepper and salt,” with 
a black stripe across his neck, and his fine rust-coloured 
tail is tipped with black, and very handsome he looks. 
But I am on the side of the beetle. Yet the mungoose 
also is appointed, I doubt not, to his stern office. The 
beetle will learn to dig deeper next time ! 
MUNGOOSE, 
