The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-28
Our 0lio.
The Mongoose.
From Chambers Journal.

Epnemeral nOtOflety IS not Limited 10 tne
canine race and every animal has its day.
The prominence accorded to the Colorado
beetle was eclipsed by the claims of Jum-
bo, who in his turn gave way to the ants,
bees and wasps, re-introduced to the public
notice by Sir John Lubbock. Now the
mOngoose, or munguse, as it is sometimes
spelled, by no means an obscure represen-
tative of creation previously, is well to the
fore, and has become the theme of burning
controversies in connection with its recent
acclimatization in Jamaica, and proposed
establishment as an addition to the fauna
of Australia and New Zealand.
When one speaks of the mongoose, the
common Indian species may usually be un-
derstood as indicated by the title. People
who visit geological gardens and collections
are often surprised to find no mOngoose
there, the fact being that it is better known
to naturalists as the Ichneumon-an ami
NAL of the weasel tribe-and is usually sc
labelled in menagcries and museums. There
are no less than twenty-One different spec,
les besides the mongoose (Herpestes .grtS-
eus, or gray ichneumOn, which forms the
subject of the discussions going on at the
present time; and several of these are found
in India.
So widespread is the reputation which
the mongoose has acquired as destroyer
of serpents, that the mere mention Of ii
invariably presents it to the imagination in
that character; and dealers, in selling one
to hesitating customer who is seeking a
new pet. are often asked: How shall
get snakes to feed it on ?" The inevitable
mystery which seems inseparable from a
reptile seems to infect everything with
which it is brought into contact, and the
little ichneumon is enveloped in cloud of
fables relative to its "antipathy to ser
pents, the purely disinterested motives
which lead it to search them out, and its
immunity from the effects of the venom,
when bitten by poisonous kinds, owing to
its knowledge of an antidote in certain
herb. leaf or root, which it runs and eats
directly its antagonist is slain. Such theo-
ries were dispelled long ago by scientists,
though they still hold ground in vulgar ac-
ceptation. The mongoose undoubtedly kills
snakes when it gets the chance; but it does
so for the prosaic purpose Of eating them,
and not from any vengeful antipathy. 1t
would be har4 to believe, that it could en-
ter into the scheme of creation to place any
animal upon the earth for the express rea-
son of its being wantonly y destroyed by any
other, independently Of any useful object.
Tho ,,,onronco 1avourc Sarpantc aS If do
YOURS birds, rats, eggs, and many other
things, and certainly betrays no preference
for an ophidian diet when it has a choice
of food. When well fed, it will not kill
them; pet specimens often lower themselves
in the estimation of their owners by refus-
ing to exhibit their vaunted propensity and
skill in the presence, or Renaissance, or
even in anticipation of their customary
plate Of meat.
Some years ago, when the ravages Of
the cane-rats became so serious in Jamaica
as really to affect the prospects of the col
ony, the Giant Toad (Bmfo ag"a), mon
ster batracian, which attains the size of Il
chicken in the swamps of Guyana and Cen
tral America, was introduced into the
island, and did much good by devOuring
the young rodents. 1t proved Intellectual
however, to cope with the pest thoroughly;
and the gray ichneumon has now been ac-
climated there, with such benefit to the
plantations, that it is said that over hun
dred thousand pounds year are saved by
it in the districts where it has multiplied.
Are we to infer from its success in ia
maica that it will prove an equal blessing
to the antipodes, if permanently quartered
on the rabbit-ridden countries, as is pro-
posed? Obviously their cry for help is
not without cause, when we hear of quar-
ter of million acres being abandoned by
one owner, after he had spent no less than
three thousand pounds in futile efforts at
determination of half million rabbits
being killed in q few months on the pro-
perty of another; and of seven million
skins being forthcoming in a single year,
the furry trophies representing onl ly por-
ton of the number of Dummies actually de-
stroyed. In Australia will the mongoose
effect what the savage and rapacious din
goes seem powerless to accomplish, and rid
the country of her terrible death-adders as
we'll And supposing it does affect such
clearance, what will be the after considera-
ton?
The acclmatization of an animal in any
country, except in domestic state, is al
ways, to say the least of it, a perilous ex-
pertinent. Nature has apportioned to ev-
cry region its due share of animal and veg
etable life, in the forms best adapted to
neutralize excess; and this balance has been
disturbed in New Zealand by the introduce
ton of the rabbit We have seen what
the rabbit can do in quarter of a century;
we have seen in many instances what small
birds-hailed with sentimental delight by
far-off eXiles as winged tokens OF home,
or imported, as in the States, to quell some
insect plague-can bring down upon their
patrons in foreign lands; in short, it may
be said that nearly every acclimatized
creature has proved to be more or less a
nuisance-a harsh and unpleasant truth,
Let us look for moment at the proba-
bilities which the mongoose offers by its
in these colonies. Most
likely the climate of New Zealand would
not be favorable to its increase-the COM
mon weasel is already suggested as a sub
stitute for it there; but there is no doubt
it would do we'll in Australia. The rabbit,
enormously prolific, and very considerably
greater in bulk than rat, would be much
more slowly reduced in numbers than the
latter animal, for, be it remembered, the
mongoose kills for food, and not for killings
sake; and a carcass almost if not quite equal
in size to its own body would furnish its
larder for some time. Before the rabbits
can be exterminated, therefore, or even ap-
preciably diminished, the destroyer must
have enormously multiplied; and when their
legitimate prey is exhausted, what are the
captors going to do? Starve or eat each
other? Certainly not, as long as poultry
farms exist. Eggs constitute favorite
food of the mongoose at all times, whether
snakes and rabbits are to be had or not
In short, it is as much to be dreaded as
fox in the hnnroost Furthermore thouOh