1. Rikki-tikki-tavi
By Rudyard Kipling

2. Setting
Since Segowlee cantonment was a British military base in northern India, the story must take place during a time when the British had military stations in India, when India was a British colony.
like the United States of America, India is no longer a British colony. India became independent in 1947

5. Mongoose
They subsist on rodents and snakes and are renowned for attacking even the largest and most poisonous snakes
Mongooses have been introduced to many areas of the world in order to control rodents and snakes
But importation of mongooses into the United States is prohibited because they also destroy many useful animals.

7. Tailorbird
This bird is typically found in open woodland, scrub and gardens.
They get their name from the way their nest is constructed.
The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fiber or spiders web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.
Common Tailorbird builds its nest in a shrub and lays 3-5 eggs.

9. Cobra Snake
common name for certain members of a family of venomous snakes, known for their intimidating behavior and deadly bite.
This snake causes many deaths each year in India, where it is regarded with religious awe and is seldom killed.

11. cower Verb To crouch or shrink down in fear
Example: Darzee and his wife cowered down into the nest.

12. consolation Noun Something that comforts
Example: It may be some consolation to you when you are dead to know that I shall settle accounts with the boy.

13. cunningly Adverb In a clever way that is meant to trick or deceive
Example: sneakily
Example: There, in the warm litter
above the melons, very
cunningly hidden, he found
twenty-five eggs.

14. scuttle
Verb
To run quickly with hurried movements

15. Revive Verb To become conscious; wake up
Example: When he revived, he was lying in the hot sun.