DOGS AS SNAKE-KILLERS.
[To THE EDITOR or THE SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Knowing how widely read your paper is in the East, I shall be interested to know whether any of your readers have seen or heard of a pariah dog being an inveterate snake-killer. About six weeks ago we found in our compound a large cobra. On closer investigation we found a wound half-way down the body and a bite at the back of the head, so we came to the conclusion that the snake had been killed by a mongoose. A week later a second cobra was found killed in exactly the same way, and shortly afterwards a third cobra also. On this third occurrence, however, though it was getting dark, my servants observed that the snake was being killed by a little black pariah pitch and her puppy, n-ho have made their home in our compound. Owing to the darkness it was impossible to discern the method of attack. Again a few days later at dawn the servants saw the two dogs tackling a fourth cobra. We gave orders after this that we were to be called at once should the dogs tackle another snake. Two mornings ago at dawn we were awakened by the servants, and went out in the garden to see the little bitch tackling a cobra five feet in length. Her method of attack is first of all to seize the snake in the middle, shake it like a rat, and break the spine. This time she broke the spine about two feet from the tail, so the snake, though unable to move along the ground, was able to rear, expand its
hood, and strike, Onlookers somewhat disturbed the dog, and she would not giro the usual bite at the back of the neck, so we killed the snake. with sticks. This morning the dog has killed her sixth. cobra; not such a long specimen, but a very powerful one: She is too. shy and wild to came into-the-house, but she has become attached to the establishment; where she knows she.'and her puppy: can expeet 4. daily: ratioD. of food.—I
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