THE HONEY RATEL 



to do it justice on paper). The Honey Guide 

 understands, and having, with undulating flight, 

 sought another tree some thirty yards further on, 

 renews his invitation. Keeping quite still, and 

 looking steadily, you presently spy a little grey and 

 black form, moving along at a steady jog-trot ; 

 the tail is carried slightly above the level of the 

 back, and the head, except when raised to glance 

 up at the guide, is held a little low. Every time 

 the bird utters his monotonous refrain, which, trans- 

 lated into feathered language, means, ' Come along, 

 come along, don't be slow,' the follower replies, 

 ' All right, my friend, don't be alarmed, I am 

 coming.' And thus the strange procession passes 

 on out of sight to the hollow log where the unlucky 

 insects are industriously slaving, only ultimately to 

 satisfy the appetites of bird and beast. When 

 following the Honey Guide, the natives of many 

 tribes in Africa endeavour to imitate the curious 

 whistling and chuckling sounds of the ratel ; 

 though indeed the bird appears to require but little 

 encouragement to keep it to its work." 



When a ratel is pursued it takes refuge in a rock 

 crevice, a hole, or in the midst of some dense 

 thorny scrub. In these situations it is exceedingly 

 difficult and often impossible to dislodge, even with 

 the aid of several good dogs, for its strength is great 

 and its skin impervious to the bites of the dogs ; 

 and moreover it is no mean foe, for when brought 

 to bay it fights to the death. It bites in a most 



