[Illustration: _Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S._] [_North Finchley._
This is a West African species, which, with an allied form from East Africa, represents the palm-civets in the Dark Continent.]
The EGYPTIAN MONGOOSE, or ICHNEUMON, has an equally great reputation for eating the eggs of the crocodile; and the KAFFIR MONGOOSE, a rather larger South African species, is kept as a domestic animal to kill rats, mice, and snakes, of which, like the Indian kind, it is a deadly foe. There are more than twenty other species, most of much the same appearance and habits.
The smooth-nosed mongoose tribe are closely allied creatures in South Africa, mainly burrowing animals, feeding both on flesh and fruit. The CUSIMANSES of Abyssinia and West Africa are also allied to them. Their habits are identical with the above.
[Illustration: _Photo by L. Medland, F.Z.S._] [_North Finchley._
Most people who have read Frank Buckland's Life will remember the suricate which was his chief pet in Albany Street. The SURICATES, or MEERKATS, burrow all over the South African veldt, especially in the sandy parts, where they sit up outside their holes like prairie-dogs, and are seen by day. They are sociable animals, and make most amusing pets. A full-grown one is not much larger than a hedgehog, but more slender. It barks like a prairie-dog, and has many other noises of pleasure or anger. A lady, the owner of one, writes in _Country Life_: "It gets on well with the dogs and cats, especially the latter, as they are more friendly to her, and allow her to sleep by their side and on the top of them. One old cat brings small birds to her (her favourite is a sparrow), and makes her usual cry, and Janet runs to her and carries off the bird, which she eats, feathers and all, in a very few minutes, if she is hungry." When near a farm, the meerkats will devour eggs and young chickens. They are also said to eat the eggs of the large leopard-tortoise. The commonest is the SLENDER-TAILED MEERKAT. It is found all over South Africa, and is very common in the Karroo. It eats insects and grubs as well as small animals, and is commonly kept as a pet throughout the Colony.
[Illustration: _Photo by Robert D. Carson_] [_Philadelphia._