37* 



THE RATEL. 



never 



with sufficient force to cause pain, so that its 

 ferocious onslaught on the lemur would not have been expected from an animal of so 

 gentle a nature. It was possessed of a very retentive memory, and could recognize 

 its friends by the touch of their fingers, without needing to see their owners. 



It is a peculiarly impertinent creature in its demeanor, and has a curious habit of 

 rearing its long neck, and bearing its head in a very snake-like fashion. When it as- 

 sumes this attitude, its bright little black eyes have a curiously pert air, as they look 

 out from under the white, wood-like, hairy covering with which the head is furnished. 

 All its movements are brisk and cheerful, and while running about its cage it continu- 

 ally utters a faint, grasshopper-like chirp. 



The color of of the Grison is very peculiar, and is remarkable as being of lighter 

 color on the back than on the under portions of the body. This divergence from 

 the usual rule is very uncommon, and is only seen in one or two animals. The muzzle, 

 the under part of the neck, the abdomen, and legs, are of a dullish black color ; while 

 the entire upper surface of the body, from the space between the eyes to the tail, is 



ORISON. Orisoaa vitiate. 



covered with a pale gray fur, each hair being diversified with black and white. The 

 tinting of this lighter fur is rather variable ; in some individuals it is nearly white, 

 while in others it has a decided tinge of yellow. 



The ears of this species are very small, and the tongue is rough. The hairs which 

 give the distinctive coloring to the upper parts of the body are longer than those which 

 cover the remaining portions of the body and the limbs. In total length it measures 

 about two feet, the tail being rather more than six inches in length. 



The odor which proceeds from the scent-glands of the Grison is peculiarly disgust- 

 ing and offends human nostrils even more than that of the stoat and polecat. 



IN the clumsy-looking animal which is called the RATEL, a beautiful adaptation of 

 nature is manifested. Covered from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the claws 

 with thick, coarse, and rough fur, and provided moreover, with a skin that lies very 

 loosely on the body, the Ratel is marvellously adapted to the peculiar life which it 

 leads. 



Although the Ratel is in all probability indebted for its food to various sources, the 

 diet which it best loves is composed of the combs and young of the honey-bee. So 

 celebrated is the animal for its predilection for this sweet dainty, that it has earned for 

 itself the title of Honey Ratel, or Honey Weasel. The reason for its extremely thick 





