276 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



assisted in discovering its delicious booty by a bird 

 called the- Honey Guide (cuculus indicator) which is 

 extremely fond both of honey and the eggs of Bees ; 

 and, in the pursuit of its food, excites the attention 

 of the Ratel by a loud grating cry of cherr, cherr, 

 cherr ; at the same time flying slowly on towards 

 the place where the swarm of Bees have taken up 

 their abode. The Ratel follows the sound with 

 great attention; and having plundered the nest, 

 leaves sufficient behind it as a reward for the ser- 

 vices of its faithful guide. The Ratel is well 

 adapted to this purpose, as the toughness and 

 thickness of its skin eifectually defend it from the 

 stings of the Bees. On this account, it is not 

 easily killed; for its skin is so loosely attached to 

 its body, that when seized by a hound, it gives 

 way, and the animal has an opportunity of turning 

 round, and biting its assailant, which it frequently 

 does so severely, as to oblige him to desist. 



The Ratel, according to Mr. Pennant, is two feet 

 long from the nose to the tail, which is eight 

 inches; its legs are short; on each foot it has four 

 toes, armed with long claws ; those on the fore feet 

 are above an inch long, and very sharp ; its tongue 

 is rough ; it has no ear-laps ; the orifice of the ear 

 is wide, and surrounded by a callous rim ; a broad 

 stripe, of an ash colour, extends along the back 

 from the forehead to the tail, which is separated 

 from the black hair on the sides and belly by a 

 light grey list running from behind each ear to the 

 tail. It burrows in holes under ground, is said to 

 be very fetid, and is called the Stinking Badger by 

 M. de la Caille. 



