Jeremy Cole Jr., age 8, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for his question:

WHAT KIND OF BIRD IS THE MONGOOSE?

The mongoose is definitely not a bird. A flesh eating mammal related to the civit, it is a small animal, about 16 inches long, with stiff, yellowish gray hairthat is grizzled with brownish black.

The mongoose has a fierce disposition. You'll find it living in the wilds of Africa and southern Asia. In North America, the mongoose lives only in zoos.

Known for its ability to kill mice, rats and snakes, the mongoose is very swift. It has been introduced into Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and some other parts of the world to destroy infestations of rats.

But the mongoose also kills poultry, wild birds and other beneficial small animals. It eats birds' eggs and young birds. It reproduces rapidly.

A mongoose cannot be brought into the United States without a permit from the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. A permit is given only if the animal will be used in a zoological exhibit or for educational, medical or scientific purposes.