The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-12-30

Watching his opportunity with a
spring the mongoose seizes him by the
neck just below the back of the head.
one crunch of his sharp needle-like
teeth, a few spasmodic commissions on
the part of the snake-and the battle
is over
A hairy animal of the ferret type
but three or four times as big, varying
from silver gray to russell brown in
color, in the wild state the mongoose
may be seen sitting in the half darken-
ed entrance to his den Or hole listen
ing lntently before venturing out upon
the world: and then cautiously pro-
ceeding out takes cover at once, NOV
ing noiselessly along hedgerows, banks
and dried up warehouses; in search
of his enemy or his food Generally
we'll hidden from sight, he rarely faces
the open, but is ever keen and alert
ready to spring upon his unwary prey,
or to rush off silently and rapidly to
the shelter of his den
Small birds, ground game, pou1-
try, rats, mice and lizards form his
staple food, and he has been known
to eat carrion, but of the snake the
only part he eats is the brain
THE marvellous racial enmity of the
mongoose to the snake and the deadly
warfare waged between them has been
exemplif1ed in a striking way in the
West Indies
There on some of the islands snakes
increased SO fast as to become a source
of danger to human life. The mon
goose was largely imported and let
loose upon the islands with astounding
results. The snake in the islands expert
mented upon is almost extinct, but the
mongoose has increased and multip.i-
ed to such an extent as almost to equal
the rabbit scourge of Australia, but in
addition to clearing the place of snakes
the mongoose has killed off all the
ground game of the islands, especially
cartridges, which at one time were nu-
merous, and afforded good sport to the
guns.
I'm India the partridge has not suf-
fered much damage from the mon
goose but in India the partridge
roosts in trees and bushes, and not on
the ground-a habit that may have
been formed for self protection against
the mongoose
''In captivity, if caught when quite
young the mongoose becomes tract
able, and makes a charming pet, being
clean and noiseless in his ways. He
becomes most attached to his master,
if kindly treated, and will follow to
heel like a dog, run up and down his
masters person, perch on the shoulder,
nibble at his ear, never actually biting.
and in a thousand and one playful
ways endear himself to his owner.
Like the snake the mongoose is
passionately fond of milk. and, cat
like, loves being rubbed down with
hard brush purring the while, and be-
ing quite upset when the operation
ceases.
I'm tropical and snake infested
countries, the mongoose is quite COM
mon pet, and is kept in many homes as
a protection against them. He forages
for himself entirely, roaming about the
house and grounds at his own free viii,
but has usually some fixed habitat,
generally a corner under some cup
board, or box, where he is safe from |
the reach of troublesome terriers
about the only animal he fears.
IF fed regularly, he will turn up
punctual for his saucer
of milk or bit of fish, and if not served
to the moment, has been heard to
swear most volubly until his wants are
attended to- A nicer. cleaner and
more charming pet it would be hard TO
find ANYWHERE