106 



THE WOLVERENE. 



on its bee-hunting expeditions. As the animal is unable to climb trees, 

 a bees' nest that is made in a hollow tree-limb is safe from its attacks. 

 But the greater number of wild bees make their nests in the deserted 

 mansions of the termite, or the forsaken burrows of various animals. 

 It is said that the Ratel finds its way to the bees' nests by watching 

 the direction in which the bees return toward their homes. 



The color of the Ratel is black upon the muzzle, the limbs, and the 

 ■whole of the under portions of the body ; but upon the upper part of 

 the head, neck, back, ribs, and tail, the animal is furnished with a thick 

 covering of long hairs, which are of an ashy gray color. A bright 

 gray stripe, about an inch in width, runs along each side and serves 

 as a line of demarcation between the light and the dark portions of the 

 fur. The ears of the Ratel are extremely short. The lighter fur of 

 the back is variously tinted in different individuals, some being of the 

 whitish gray which has been already mentioned, and others remark- 

 able for a decided tinge of red. The length of the Cape Ratel is 

 rather more than three feet, inclusive of the tail, which measures eight 

 or nine inches in length. In its walk it is plantigrade, and has so 

 much of the ursine character in its movements that it has been called 

 the Indian or Honey Bear. It is sometimes known under the title of 

 " Bharsiah." 



The animal which has just been described is an inhabitant of South- 

 ern Africa, being found in great profusion at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 There is, however, an Indian species of Ratel, which very closely re- 

 sembles the African animal, and in the opinion of some writers is iden- 

 tical with it. 



The Wolverene — more popularly known by the name of the Glut- 

 ton — has earned for itself a world-wide reputation for ferocity, and has 



given occasion to 

 some of the older wri- 

 ters on natural his- 

 tory to indulge in the 

 most unshackled lib- 

 erty of description. 



It is known that 



the Glutton feeds 



largely on the 



smaller quadrupeds, 



and that it is a 



most determined foe 



to the beaver in the 



The Wolverene (Gulo luscus). summer months. 



During the winter it has little chance of catching a beaver, for the 



animals are quietly ensconced in their home, and their houses are 



