280 liVDlRECl BENEFITS DEliIVED FROM IXSECTS. 



racter of being very fond of ants and of honey; which 

 last is also said to be a favourite article with the fox, 

 who has sometimes the audacity to overturn bee-hive>;, 

 and even to attack wasps' nests in search of it. He will 

 also eat beetles. 



, f Sparmann has given an amusing account of the ho- 

 iiey-ratel, ( Vivcrra incUivora,) which has a particular 

 instinct enabling it to discover bees, and attack tliem 

 in their entrenchments. Near sun-set the ratel wiil 

 sit and hold one of his paws before his eyes, in order to 

 get a distinct view of the object of his pursuit; and 

 when, in consequence of his peering about in this man- 

 ner, he sees any bees flying, he knows that at this time 

 of the day they are making for their habitations, whi- 

 ther he follows them, and so attains his end^. Anotlier 

 species of Viverra ( V. prehensilis) is also reputed to be 

 an eager insect-hunter. The young armadillos feed 

 OR a species of locust; but no cjuadruped can with more 

 propriety be called insectivorous than the ant-eaters 

 (^Myrmecophcga)^ which, as their name imports, live 

 upon ants. The great ant-eater, Vi hen he comes to an 

 ant-hill, scratches it up with his long claws, and then 

 unfolds his slender worm-like tongue, (which is more 

 than two feet long, and wet with saliva,) and when co- 

 vered with ants draws it back into his mouth and s^val- 

 lows thousands of them alive, renewing the operation 

 till no more are to be found. lie also climbs trees \i\ 

 search of wood-lice and wild honey. Bats, as every one 

 knows, are always flitting about in summer evenings, 

 hawking for insects : and the Lemur and monkeys will 

 also eat them. 



Insects likewise aflTord a favourite kind of food to 



' Sparrman, ii. 180. 



