803 NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 



iS. ecaudatus) is ifefended by spinous projections, and is 

 K.nown to Europeans under the name of the pig-porcupine. 



The ratcl, or honey-eater {Mellivora CapeJisis), is pecu- 

 liar to the southern extremity of this continent. The ge" 

 neral colour of the upper surface of the ^-ody is gray — of the 

 under, black, — an unusual contrast, as the inferior parts of 

 the fur of most animals are paler than those of the dorsal 

 region. Its fore claws are very long. It lives on honey, 

 and digs up the nests of wild bees from the deserted bur- 

 rows of different animals. It is said to watch the flight and 

 motions of a species of cuckoo (the Cuculus indicator) which 

 preys on bees. The Hottentots indeed follow the same 

 guide, and are also alleged to discover wild honey lodged 

 in trees, by observing the bark gnawed around the base by 

 the spiteful ratel, which cannot climb. 



We are not acquainted with any animal of the otter kind, 

 strictly so called, inhabiting Africa ; although Europe, 

 Asia, and America are well supplied with several sorts. 

 The nearest approach, among the African forms of animal 

 life, is presented by the Aonyx Delalandi, remarkable for its 

 feet being either without nails, or for the existence of these 

 appendages in a merely rudimentary state on one or two 

 toes of the hind feet. It is named Lvtra inunguis by some 

 naturalists, on account of that peculiarity. This animal 

 measures about three feet in length, exclusive of the tail, 

 which extends about ten inches ; the fur is soft and thick, 

 of a chestnut-brown colour, paler on the flanks, with a mix 

 ture of gray about the head. It preys on fish and Crustacea, 

 and inhabits the salt pools along the borders of the sea in 

 the vicinity of the Cape. 



Canine animals are very generally distributed over the 

 surface of our globe. Under that appellation naturalists 

 include not only domestic dogs, and all their interminable 

 varieties, but wolves, foxes, and jackals. Wolves are cha- 

 racteristic of the temperate and northern parts of Europe 

 and America. Foxes have a somewhat similar distribution, 

 but are more extended in a southern direction; while 

 jackals abound in most of the warmer regions of the Old 

 World, but, unlike the other two, are unknown in America, 

 There are three species of jackall. The Asiatic species 

 (Canis aureus) characteristic of, but not peculiar to the 

 continent of Asia, is the most widely spread. It occurs 



