Of These, The Musk-Rat Is A Terrible Plague, As He Perfumes
Everything That He Passes Over, Rendering Fruit, Cake, Bread,
Etc., Perfectly Uneatable, And Even Flavoring Bottled Wine By
Running Over The Bottles.
This, however, requires a little
explanation, although it is the popular belief that he taints the
wine through the glass.
The fact is, he taints the cork, and the flavor of musk is
communicated to the wine during the process of uncorking the
bottle.
There is a great variety of rats in Ceylon, from the tiny shrew
to the large "bandicoot". This is a most destructive creature in
all gardens, particularly among potato crops, whole rows of which
he digs out and devours. He is a perfect rat in appearance, but
he would rather astonish one of our English tom-cats if
encountered during his rambles in search of rats, as the
"bandicoot" is about the same size as the cat.
There is an immense variety of vermin throughout Ceylon,
including many of that useful species the ichneumon, who in
courage and strength stands first of his tribe. The destruction
of snakes by this animal renders him particularly respected, and
no person ever thinks of destroying him. No matter how venomous
the snake, the ichneumon, or mongoose, goes straight at him, and
never gives up the contest until the snake is vanquished.
It is the popular belief that the mongoose eats some herb which
has the property of counteracting the effects of a venomous bite;
but this has been proved to be a fallacy, as pitched battles have
been witnessed between a mongoose and the most poisonous snakes
in a closed room, where there was no possibility of his procuring
the antidote.
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