MELLIYOEA. 



177 



covers the ears, eyes, and muzzle ; the upper portion of the tail 

 also is whitish except at the extremity. Fore claws white. 



Fig. 46. — Mellivora indica. 



Dimensions. According to Hodgson head and body 32 inches, 

 tail 5, with the hair (J|, hind foot to heel 44. Jerdon gives head 

 and body 26 inches, tail 6. A skull is 4'0 inches in basal length 

 by 3"2 in zygomatic bi'eadth. 



Distribution. India generally, from the base of the Himalayas to 

 the extreme south, with the exception of the Malabar coast and 

 Lower Bengal. Not found in Ceylon nor to the east of the Bay of 

 Bengal, but the range extends to the westward certainly as far as 

 Sind. 



Habits. Like most of its subfamily the Indian ratel is exclusively 

 nocturnal. During the day it remains in holes, probably dug by 

 itself. According to Jerdon it is most common in hilly districts 

 or in those parts of the alluvial plains of Xorthern India where 

 the riAcrs have high banks, aflbrding suitable localities for its dens. 

 It is said to live in pairs, to feed on rats, birds, frogs, and insects, 

 and to be very destructive to poultry. Like the African ratel, it 

 doubtless eats honey and bees when it can get them. Throughout 

 India this animal has the reputation of digging into graves of men 

 in order to feed upon dead bodies, and several of the native names 

 mean " gravedigger," a term often applied to the species by Euro- 

 peans. In Persia the same belief exists with I'egard to the badger, 

 and is in all probability equally without the least foundation. 

 Indeed, although the dentition of MeUivora is more carnivorous 

 than that of the true badgers, the fact that the ratel in confinement 

 lives well on vegetable food renders it probable that this animal 

 feeds partly on vegetables, probably fruit and roots, in the wild 

 state also. At the same time Jerdon states that he has heard of 



