NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



the sharp quills do it little or no damage. It 

 takes the greatest care not to expose its under 

 parts, where the skin is tender and thin. 



I watched two male ratels in deadly combat 

 one evening just about dusk. It was apparent that 

 each of them was exercising the utmost care to 

 protect its tender abdomen from the teeth of 

 the other. They advanced on one another with 

 bent back and head lowered. Each seemed to be 

 inviting the other to bite first. The motive was 

 plain, as the one which bit first was at a disadvan- 

 tage, for the instant it raised its head and seized 

 the tough skin of the neck or back of its opponent 

 the latter would instantly make a grab for its ab- 

 domen, which is soft and easy to bite through. 

 The skin of a ratel is so loosely attached to its body 

 that should a foe seize it by the back of the neck 

 it can turn in its own skin so easily that it is en- 

 abled to lacerate its enemy's mouth and throat 

 and inflict frightful injuries. 



So tough is the skin of a ratel that the sharp 

 teeth of a dog will not penetrate it. A large hound 

 is no match for an adult ratel, although it is of such 

 comparatively small size. When the hound bites 

 it only succeeds in getting a mouthful of the ratel's 

 hide, but does the animal little or no damage. 

 Meanwhile the ratel is getting home a succession 

 of severe bites, which eventually cripple or kill 

 the dog. 



Little short of actually shattering the thick skull, 



