THE MONGOOSE AS A RABBIT DESTROYER.

Western Star, Issue 864, 30 July 1884, Page 3

THE MONGOOSE AS A RABBIT DESTROYER.

A correspondent wriles to the “Australasian ” as follows ; —as the mongoose is now attracting some attention in' the colony as s vermin destroyer, a few words ns to my experience in India with the animal may be acceptable to your readers, and I have much pleasure in offering the same. On taking over charge of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s Hardens, Alipore, Calcutta, I found the place infested with rabbits, squirrels, rats, and snakes. The rabbits were a pest to the kitchen garden, the squirrels to the orchard, the rats in the office and propagating and cool greenhouses, and snakes of the most venomous kinds were everywhere; the residence, a two storied house, not being exempt from their presence. I issued stringent orders relative 'to preserving the mongoose on the grounds, and before long hart the pleasure to see the garden almost entirely free of pests Owing to the very great distance of tho Calcutta municipal market from Alipore, and for personal convensience, I kept a considerable quantity of poultry, sheep, ete Belvidere, the Lieutenant-Governor's residence, 10 which the gardens are attached, had a large paddock well stocked with every description of cattle, and from personal knowledge I am certain neither of the places indicated suffered in the least from the depredations of the mongoose. This animal is domesticated in Bengal, the wealthy, as well as those in humble circumstances being glad of the same about their premises. Any feeling there may be as to the animal being likely to be a pest to the colony is a mistaken one. Children and lambs, I feel certain, will be quite free from their attacks ; but the rabbits, rats antt birds, that prey on the crops, as well as the shakes, will find the mongoose a scourge. In the north-west provinces of India, which in the winter months are quite as cold as Victoria, the mongoose is very, rare, and I therefore opine that the animal is not likely to propagate in sufficient numbers ever to be a nuisance to this colony. The mongoose, the same ns the dog, attaches itself to persona nnd places, and is a very clean animal.