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They like to hunt together, keeping in touch whenever they go out of sight behind rocks or bushes by twittering and calling. Always on the lookout for danger — hawks, eagles and large snakes — they warn one another with a special alarm call if they spot anything suspicious.
Mongooses are famous for being able to kill snakes without getting hurt themselves. Their reactions are so fast that they can dodge each time the snake strikes. They continually make a nuisance of themselves until, after a while, when the snake gets tired, they quickly dive in for the kill.
All the female mongooses have their kitten at about the same time. They are raised by the whole group in a den made inside an old termite mount or hollow log. When most of the adults are out looking for food, one or two males stay behind to stand guard until the others return for the night.
Mongooses travel in a group in search of food. If a mongoose cannot see other members of its group, it communicates by making bird-like calls which tells the others where they are, thereby being in contact even when unseen. Mongoose will watch out for animals like eagles, hawks, and large snakes. And in case of emergency or on noticing something doubtful, then they make a sound to alert the others.
A group of mongoose
Mongooses are famed for killing snakes without hurting themselves. When the snake is attacking, then the mongoose responds at high speed. They attack continuously and annoy the snake until the snake gets tired; finally, they land the killing blow on the tired snake.
Mongoose
Termite mound
Meanings of difficult words:
Numbers | Words | Meanings |
1. | Famous | Well known |
2. | Dodge | Move quickly to avoid its enemy |
3. | Strikes | Attack |
4. | Nuisance | Annoyance |
5. | Tired | Exhausted |
6. | Mound | Heap |
7. | Hollow log | A log of wood with open space inside |
8. | Termite mound | Conical mound of soil |
9. | Kitten | A young mammal (any immature mammal) |
10. | Guard | Watch over in order to protect |
11. | Dive | Sudden jump |
12. | Twittering | It is a call or a tweet sound (of a bird) and it gives a call consisting of repeated light trembling sounds |
13. | Suspicious | Doubtful |
14. | Bushes | A shrub or clump of shrubs with stems |
15. | Danger | The possibility of something unwelcome |
16. | Hunt | Pursue and kill (a wild animal) for sport or food |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2006). Honeysuckle. Desert Animals (pp. 112-120). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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