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mongoose with marked effect, as an ordinary ferret, to which it is vastly superior, but its
extraordinary quickness made it dangerous to handle. It is best left to do its own hunting, which
should be arranged as follows :—
Obtain a box about 2 ft. by 1 ft. by 1 ft., cover the front with 1 in. mesh netting, the
door being of the same material. Place a little hay or other litter in one corner of the box and
keep the place clean. Put the box in a damp- and draught- free corner of the infested warehouse
if possible where the sunshine may reach it—feed the animal on small quantities of perfectly fresh
meat, also a little ripe fruit—oranoes are special favourites—give water to drink and leave the
animal there for a week to get used to its quarters. At the end of that time open the door late in
the evening and let the mongoose find its way out. In the morning it will be gone and may not be
seen for weeks, but a little fresh meat and fruit, also water, should be placed daily in the box as a
temptation to return. It will return from time to time, but will finally disappear, lost or strayed,
from two to six months after release, having appreciably earned far more than its cost. If necessary
purchase another. Being entirely fearless, active and bloodthirsty the mongoose kills many rats,
but in my mind it is chiefly effective in scaring them from the neighbourhood.