82 ANIMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



over, return with its paws the caresses it received, and 

 gently bite the fingers, but never so as to hurt or wound 

 them. It ahnost appeared as if the creature knew the 

 degree of resistance which the skin Avas capable of mak- 

 ing, and that it proportioned the force of its bite accord- 

 ingly, when it wished to express its joy ; it seemed also 

 to know the fingers of a person Vvdthout seeing them. 

 It preserved, however^ its natural thirst of blood for all 

 those living beings which could become its prey ; since 

 one day it broke the bars of its cage to attack a lemur 

 that was within reach, and mortally wounded it. Upon 

 catching a bird, it killed it directly, and laid it by as if 

 for store ; it did the same with such part of its usual 

 provisions as it did not appear immediately to want." 



The size of the Grison, as the French call this animal, 

 is rather small, the length measuring about eighteen 

 inches from nose to tail : the body is lengthened ; and 

 as the toes are half connected by a membrane. Dr. Trail 

 considers it as belonging to the otter genus. The co- 

 lour of the fur, unlike most other quadrupeds, is darker 

 underneath than upon the back : it is of a pale grey co- 

 lour, mixed with silky black ; or, rather, each hair is 

 alternately coloured with black and yellowish white. 

 This is the upper colour; but that of the muzzle, lower 

 jaw, throat, chest, and body, is deep black : in adcUtion 

 to this, there is a pale grey or whitish line, which springs 

 from between the eyes, and passes over the ears to the 

 sides of the neck. The tail is six inches long. 



The Rattel, or Cape Wolverine. 



Gulo mellivora, Nobis. Viverra mellivora, Gmelin. Rattel, 

 Sparman. Fizzler Weasel, PennaM. Ratellus Ratel, Fred, 

 Cuvier. 



This animal, which seems to have a close affinity with 

 the preceding, is placed conditionally in the same genus. 

 It is sometimes brought from Southern Africa ; but, 

 although by no means uncommon, we do not find any 

 record of hving examples in our menageries. 



