CARXIVORA. 205 



ture : dense and tough skin ; but the fur is rather 

 rare, short, and coarse, and the hide so loose,, that 

 dogs, in biting, can scarcely fasten upon any solid 

 part. It is not a climber, but a most powerful dig- 

 ger in the ground, by means of its strong claws, 

 feeding, it is probable, in South Africa, on, ail kinds 

 of animal substances and carrion. According to 

 Sparrman, it is a great searcher of honey, and has 

 sufficient instinct to observe the Honey Cuckoo s note, 

 follow his guidance to a nest of bees, and to share 

 the plunder with its feathered partner. In the East 

 Indies, a variety, or perhaps a distinct species, 

 somewhat smaller, is found, and accused of making 

 long and deep subterranean galleries, working its 

 way into the graves of men, and subsisting on the 

 putrid flesh. 



Mel. ratel The Ratel. Has the molars f-f , of 



which two are false on each side in the upper, and 

 three in the lower jaw. Above two feet in length, 

 with the tail one foot ; form of a badger, with very 

 small ears ; grey on the forehead, neck, back, and 

 tail ; beneath all black, with a whitish line sepa- 

 rating the two colours, from ears to tail, often form- 

 ing a patch or band upon the forehead. There 

 appears to be no marked distinction between the 

 Indian variety and the African, and the difference 

 in manners may be merely arising from the obser- 

 vers themselves taking their notices under different 

 aspects and circumstances. 



The Ratels offer one more instance of the colours 

 of the fur being light on the upper surface of the 



