Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-01
A Fight Between a MOnsOOse and a
EnhI.n

The snake was a large cobra four feet ten and
half inches in length, the most formidable
cobra have seen. He was turned into an eu-
closed room or veranda about twenty by twelve
feet, and at once coied himself up, head erect
about ten or twelve inches from the ground, and
began to hiss loudly. The mongOose was
small one of its kind, very tame and kind but
exceedingly active. When the mongoose was
put into the rectangle, it seemed scarcely to
notice the cobra; but the latter, on the contrary
appeared AT once to recognize its enemy 1t be-
came excited, and no longer seemed to pay any
attention TO the bystanders, but kept constantly
looking al the mongoose. The monooose began
TO go round and round the enclosure, OCCASION
ally ventuTing up to the cobra, apparently quite
unconCeTned. Some eggs being laid upon the
ground, II rolled them near the cobra and began
to suck them. Occasionally it left the eggs and
went up to the cobra, within an inch OF its
neck, as the latter reared up; but when the
cobra struck out the mOngoose was away with
extraordinary activity
2aAt length the mongoose began to bite the
cobra's tail, and il looked as if the fight would
commence in earnest. Neither, however, seemed
anxious for close quarters so the enclosure was
narrowed. The mOngoose then began to give
the cobra some very severe bites, but the cobra,
after some fendng forced the mOngoose into a
corner and struck it with full force on the upper
part of the hind leg. We were sorry for the
mongoose, as but for the enclosure it would have
escaped. 1t was clear that upon open ground
the cobra could not have bitten it at all; while
twas the policy of the mongooSe to exhaust the
cobra before making close attack. The bite of
the cobra evidently caused the mongoose great
pain, for it repeatedly stretched out its leg and
shook it, as if painful, for some minutes. The
cobra seemed exhausted by its efforts, and put
ting down its head tried hard to escape and
keep itself in a corner. The mOngOose then went
up TO it and drew it out by swapping at its tail,
and when it was out began TO bite its body,
while the cobra kept turning round and round,
striking desperately at the mongoose, but in
vain When this had continued for some time
the mongoose came at length right out in front
OF the cobra, and after some lodging and
fencing, when the cobra was in the act of strik-
ing, or rather ready to strike out, the mon
goose TO the surprise of all, made sudden
spring at the cobra and bit it in the inside of
the upper jaw about the fang, and jumped
back again. Blood flowed from the mouth
OF the cobra, and it seemed much weak
cled. 1t was easy now to see how the fight
would end, as the mOngoose became more
eager for the struggle. 1t continued TO bite
the body of the cobra, going round it as before
and soon came again in front and bit it a second
time in the upper jaw, when more blood flowed
This continued for some time, until at last the
cobra being very weak the mOngooSe caught its
upper jaw firmly, and holding down its head
began to crunch it, The cobra, however, being
very strong one, often got up again and tried
feebly to strike the mongoose; but the latter
ny" Dit AZ 10 hoau anu ouuy 10 IL PledsttJ anu
when the cobra became motionless and dead the
mongoose left it and ran TO the jungle. The ma
tlyeS said the mongoOSe went TO the jungle TO eat
some leaves to cure itself with. We did not
wish to prevent it, and we expected it would
die, as it was severely bitten. In the evening,
some hours after the fight, it returned, appar-
emily quite well, sand is now quite as well as ever.
1t follows either that the bite of a cobra is not
fatal to moagoose, or that a mongoose man
ages somehow to cure itself. l am not disposed
to put aside altogether what so many intelligent
natives positively assert. This fight showed at
any rate, how these active little animals manage
to kill poisonous snakes. On open ground a
snake cannot strike them, whereas they can
bite the body and tail of a snake, and wear it
out before coming to close quarters This mon
goose did not seem to fear the cobra at ALL
whereas the cobra was evidently in great fear
from the moment it saw the mongoose,- Mature,
for February.