Skip to main content

How does Rikki-tikki threaten the snakes in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"?

In general, Rikki-tikki is a threat because he is in the same habitat as Nag and Nagaina. A mongoose is a predatory animal, so Rikki-tikki is capable of efficiently killing another animal. Additionally, snakes are a typical prey species for mongooses to hunt. Rikki-tikki is a threat to the snakes because of a basic food chain hierarchy.  


Nag and Nagaina definitely feel the potential threat that Rikki-tikki represents once Rikki-tikki proves he is more than capable of dealing with a snake. First, Rikki-tikki proves his quickness by dodging Nagaina's sneaky attack from behind. Second, Rikki-proves his ability to kill when he kills Karait.  


The final way that Rikki-tikki is a threat to Nag and Nagaina is that a mongoose is an opportunistic predator. A mongoose survives by hunting many different prey, which doesn't bother the snakes. What does threaten the snakes is that a mongoose will often raid nests and eat the eggs. Nag and Nagaina have chosen this particular yard to lay their eggs and raise their young. Rikki-tikki not only threatens the adults, but he also threatens the lives of the unborn snakes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is there a word/phrase for "unperformant"?

As a software engineer, I need to sometimes describe a piece of code as something that lacks performance or was not written with performance in mind. Example: This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. Based on my Google searches, this isn't a real word. What is the correct way to describe this? EDIT My usage of "performance" here is in regard to speed and efficiency. For example, the better the performance of code the faster the application runs. My question and example target the negative definition, which is in reference to preventing inefficient coding practices. Answer This kind of coding style leads to unmaintainable and unperformant code. In my opinion, reads more easily as: This coding style leads to unmaintainable and poorly performing code. The key to well-written documentation and reports lies in ease of understanding. Adding poorly understood words such as performant decreases that ease. In addressing the use of such a poorly ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is 'efficate' a word in English?

I routinely hear the word "efficate" being used. For example, "The most powerful way to efficate a change in the system is to participate." I do not find entries for this word in common English dictionaries, but I do not have an unabridged dictionary. I have checked the OED (I'm not sure if it is considered unabridged), and it has no entry for "efficate". It does have an entry for "efficiate", which is used in the same way. Wordnik has an entry for "efficate" with over 1800 hits, thus providing some evidence for the frequency of use. I personally like the word and find the meaning very clear and obvious when others use it. If it's not currently an "officially documented" word, perhaps its continued use will result in it being better documented.
Post a Comment
Read more