The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21

ground. and began TO hiss loudly. The
mongoose was a small one Of its kind,
very tame and quiet, but exceedingly &C
tive.
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 became excited, and no longer seemed
To- pay any attention to the bystanders,
but kept constantly looking at the mon
goose. The mongoose began to 90 round
and round the enclosure, occasionally ven
turing up to the cobra, apparently quite
uncOncerned
Some eggs being laid on the ground 1t
rolled them near the cobra and began to
suck them. Occasionly 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.
At length the mongoose began to bite
the cobra's tail, and il looked as if the
hight would commence in earnest. Meth
err 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 fencing, forced the mon
goose into a corner and struck It with full
strength on the upper part Of the hind
leg. We were sorry for the mongoose, as
but for the enclosure II would have escap-
ed. Ii was clear that ON open ground the
cobra could not have bitten IL at all, while
It was the policy Of the mongoose to eX-
haust the cobra before making a close
attack The bite Of the cobra evidently
caused the mongoose great pain, for 1t
repeatedly stretched out its leg and shook
it, as if it was painful, for some minutes.
The cobra seemed exhausted by it's efforts,
and putting down its head tried 70 escape,
and kept itself in a corner The mon
goose then went up to II 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 mongouse, but i'll vain.
When this continued for some time the
mongoose came at length right in front
" the cobra, and after some lodging and
fencing, when the cobra was IN the act
Of striking, Or rather getting ready to
strike out, the mungoose 70 the surprise
# all, made sudden spring at the cobra
and bit IL In the inside uf the upper Jaw
about the fang, and instantly jumped
back again Blood flowed in large drops
from the mouth Of the cobra. and it
seemed much weakened. Ii was easy now
Ia see how the fight would end, as the
mongnoss became more eager for the
struggle. 1t continued Ia bite the body
Of the cobra, going round 1t as before. and
soon came again III front and bit il sec
und time III the upper Jaw, when more
blood flowed. This lasted for some time,
until at last, the cobra being very weak,
the monguose caught its upper jaw firmly,
and holding down ITS head began % crunch
it, The cobra, however, being a very
strong one, often got up again, and tried
feebly 70 strike the mongoose but the
latter moss bit its head and body as it
pleased, and when the cobra became mo
ran To the jungle
The natives said that the mongoose
went "a the Jungle 70 eat some leaves u
cure itself We did not wish t. prevent
it, and We expected It would die. as 1t was
severely bitten In the evening. some
hours after the hight, it returned apparent
~ quite well, and Is now rs well rs ever.
Ii follows either that the bite Of cobra
Is not fatal 10 "A monguuse, or that mon
goose manages somehow L. cure itself |
am not disposed ~ put aside altogether
what 50 many intelligent natives positive
ly assert.
This fight shows at any rate how these
active little ANIMALS manage TO kill poison
GUS snakes. On open ground a snake can
not strike them, whereas they can bite the
body and tail Of "A snake and wear II Ont
before coming to close quarters. This
mungoOse did not seem to fear the cobra
at all whereas the cobra WAS evidently in
great fear from the moment it saw the
mOngOOse.