John Holmes

2010-Oct-07  near Mai Po


“The book of Indian Animals” by S H Prater (Bombay Natural History Society) is quite informative on the subject of mongooses.

“Mongooses take vegetable food, but have a preference for meat….Their manner of hunting is distinctive…. direct, open and headlong attack.

Seeing its prey, a mongoose goes for it, but if the distance is too far for a rush or pounce, it will stalk for a sufficiently near approach. Or following its quarry by scent, a mongoose may trail it to its burrow and, entering, dig its victim out.  Its pointed head, small ears, lissom body, and short legs are well fitted to give the mongoose easy entry...”

“The claws, especially long and well-developed in the forefeet, are digging claws; while the contrivance for closing the ear is designed, apparently, to keep out dust and dirt when burrowing.”