The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-14
Fight Between q MOngOOse and Viper.

YESTERDAY l saw a most interesting
experiment, if may call it so; fair
fight between a mOngoose and very
poisonous viper. The mongoose is a
small animal, about the size of very
large rat, or half-again as big. 1t is
something between a rat and weasel,
hairy, and with bushy tail. 1t is
known to kill snakes, and even the
cobra, believe, which is the most
deadly of all.
But how the mongoose does it, is not
generally known for certain, as have
heard several opinions on the subject
since have been in India.
A large (russet?) viper, about two
and half feet long, said to be as dead
ly as the cobra, was caught few days
ago, and kept by friend here for a day
or SO in large box for curiosity's sake,
and as luck would have it, mongoose
was brought in a day or so afterwards.
1t was understood and out of condi-
ton, and we thought the Kissing beast
of viper must be too much for it. We
took them both into an empty room,
when the snake evidently dreaded the
mongoose at first sight, as he would
not leave his box for time. When he
came out, and the mongoose saw him,
it ran up to him, and they faced each
other, the mongoose evidently counting
the snakes dart.
1t came like lightning, and the move
ments of both were SO quick that it
was impossible to see what happened
until they both appeared, struggling
together, and after a time separated,
the snake curling himself up with his
head under his body, and kissing per-
petually, while the mongoose appeared
to have been bitten, and ran about in
an uncomfortable manner, and began
to throw foam from his mouth.
We then thought that he was bitten
and would die, but now think he had
bitten the snake, and did not like the
taste, hence the foaming at the mouth.
However that may be, he soon showed
that he was not the worse, and seeing q
freq hop out of the snakes box, he
pounced upon him and began a hearty
meal, every now and then taking a run
to look at his enemy, whom, finding
still curled up, he returned to the frog
and his meal in the most matter-of-fact
manner.
1t was evident the snake felt his
master in quickness of movement, and
that his only safety Law in keeping his
head coilcd within his body, as the
mongoose would not touch him in that
position, probably knowing that if he
attacked him anywhere but on the
head the snake would get a bite at him.
The mongoose was evidently tempt
ing the snake to strike again, but the
latter knew better, and kept still. 1t
became evident at last that the mon
goose had determined to finish his meal
on the frog before he troubled himself
again to make a decisive set at the
snake, and SO to shorten matters we
stirred up his enemy to action by the
help of long pole, and got him right
opposite the mongoose, still intent on
his meal.
The fated snake seemed to know that
the decisive moment could not be
delayed, and went at the mongoose,
and, as before, all we could distinguish
was series of rapid movements and a
fearful struggle; after which appeared
the mongoose pinning the snake by the
head to the floor, by a bulldog grip
on the upper jaw of the snake, the
latter writhing and struggling with all
its might.
The mongoose knew that if he once
let 90 his hold his death was sealed,
and he held him down and regularly
crunched the snakes jaw and head un-
til he was quite helpless, and then
quietly finished him off, and ate the
head. l was SO glad to see the mon
goose victorious, as the viper was such
beast. But the vicious way in which
the mongoose held on made me shudder
also; but he evidently hated snakes as
much as do.
The mongoose appeared to be un-
touched, and in fact must have been
SO, or he would have died almost inn
me,liately from the bite of deadly
snake of this kind, where he is alive to-
day, and none the worse, except being
slightly lethargic, which is accounted
for by the heavy meal he made on the
frog and the snake.
It is delightful to think that the poi
sonous snakes have such an enemy in
the little mongoose, which is tolerably
plentiful in wild state throughout the
country. Before seeing the fight, I
thought that the mongoose would prob.