296 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



distinctly Badger-like in general appearance, although it has been 

 compared also to a small Bear. There are two kinds, one being 

 found in Africa and the other in India. 



Light above and dark below, with short tails, no external ears, 

 short, strong limbs with tremendous claws on the fore-feet, may be 

 given as briefly descriptive of these animals, whilst in size they are 

 nearly akin to the Common Badger, attaining a length of from 

 twenty-six to thirty-two inches, excluding the tail. 



We appear to have struck quite a number of nocturnal animals 

 on our present pilgrimage, and it is interesting to note that the 

 Ratels are also rovers during the darkness, concealing themselves 

 in burrows in the daytime, these being excavated in all probability 

 by the animals themselves. 



It is the African species which seems to have the most partiality 

 for honey, whilst Bee grubs are also relished, the beast being able 

 to extract both from the insect's homestead in a hollow tree by 

 means of the enormous claws on the front pair of legs. This African 

 Ratel enjoys a fairly \vide range over the great Continent, but 

 exhibits a preference for the Southern and Western portions. 



Some authorities do not consider that the two animals referred 

 to are entitled to specific distinction, but, on comparison being 

 made, it is obvious that the African Ratel can at once be dis- 

 tinguished from its Indian cousin by means of the prominent line 

 of white along the sides of the body which divides the black under- 

 parts from the whitish-grey above. Besides the food mentioned, 

 Ratels feed upon such creatures as frogs, birds, insects and rats, 

 and it is stated that in districts where poultry are kept a good deal 

 of damage is perpetrated. 



BRAZILIAN TAPIR. There are four species of South American 

 Tapirs, and of these the Brazilian Tapir (Fig. 234) is a worthy repre- 

 sentative. It is an inhabitant of the forests of Brazil, Paraguay 

 and Northern Argentina. Curiously enough, outside South America 

 only one species of Tapir is found, i. e. the Malayan Tapir next to 

 be described. 



The eminent Swedish naturalist Carl Von Linne, or Linnaeus, 

 to whose remarkable classification of animals and plants the scientific 

 world owes such a debt of gratitude, originally described the Tapir 

 "as a terrestrial species of Hippopotamus," and whilst it is true that 

 in our classification of animals to-day the Tapir is not far removed 

 from the bulky beast with whom Linnasus associated it, it is placed 



