172 



THE BEASTS OF PREY. 



its rather slow, heavy and awkward progress. Seen when 

 crouching in fancied security, or hoping to escape observation 

 (and it will sometimes remain long motionless in this posture, 

 permitting near approach), the animal might easily be mis- 

 taken for a stone or clod of earth. The very hairs lie flat, as if 

 parted in the middle, and form a fringe along either side, pro- 

 jecting, as one writer has remarked, ' like the shell of a turtle 

 or the eaves of a house.' " 



Home and Habits P'?T^-^'^f^V' H"*^ '!| the greater part of 



nf imoyif„,n the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 



B^gsT Badger inhabiting the latter country and 



" portions of Texas and California has been 



by some authorities classed as a distinct species under the 



name of the Mexican Badger (Taxidea americana), but the 



characteristics of the animal differ little from those of the 



THE BATEL, OR HONEY-BADGER. This African animal is so peculiar in its markings as to be at 



once distinguished from any other. The difference between the light fur which covers the upper part of the body 

 and the dark covering of the lower half is sharply defined as shown in the picture. The strong claws, which are also 

 shown, give it great digging ability, for it eats roots as well as small animals, and excavates itself a burrow with great 

 rapidity. Its predilection for honey gives it the name it bears. {MelUvora capensis.) 



American Badger, of which it is now regarded as being only a 

 local variety. « 



The American Badger inhabits plains principally, although 

 it is also found in wooded districts, and is especially numerous 

 in the region west of the Mississippi to the Pacific coast, 

 abounding in very large numbers in the plains watered by the 

 Missouri and the arid, sage-brush plains between the Rocky 

 Mountain and the Sierra Nevada ranges, where Badgers' bur- 

 rows are encountered constantly. The animal itself is not so 

 frequently seen, for it shuns Man and hastily retreats to its 

 burrow to escape human sight. When attacked by a hunter 

 at close range it shows fight, bristles up its hair until it appears 

 much larger than it really is, and instead of retreating advances 

 open-mouthed and with a great display of ferocity. The hunter 

 who attacks it with a stick will need much caution, for it clings 

 to life tenaciously, and snaps at its assailant viciously, and its 

 bite inflicts a serious wound. It is usually caught in traps, as 

 it is difficult to find, and only a few can be obtained by hunting 

 them. 



The American Badger is more carnivorous than the Euro- 

 pean species, and its principal prey are the rodents which 

 abound in the region it occupies. Where Gophers are found 

 the Badger digs them out and kilLs them, taking possession of 

 their burrows and, according to Dr. Samuel Lockwood, " en- 

 larges the establishment to suit his own ideas of convenience." 



THE RATELS. 



Another group is formed by the Ratels, or Honey 

 Badgers {Mellivord). They are animals possessed 



of broad backs, short snouts and short tails ; the 

 body is clumsier than that of the Badger and has a 

 flattened appearance, the back being very broad and 

 flat ; the snout elongated ; the small ears scarcely 

 visible above the fur ; the eyes are small and lie very 

 deep ; the legs are short, stout and bare-soled, and 

 the toes of the fore-paws are provided with long^ 

 claws, adapted for burrowing. 



The Batel The Ratel, or Honey Badger {Mel- 

 or Honey Badger livora capensis), attains a length of 

 Described. twenty-eight inches, ten of this form- 

 ing the proportionately long tail. The hair is long 



and wiry; forehead, back 

 I of head and neck, back, 

 shoulders and tail are 

 ashy gray, while the 

 snout, cheeks, ears, throaty 

 breast, underpart and legs- 

 are grayish black, the line 

 o f demarcation between, 

 the two colors being very 

 distinct. Usually a light 

 gray stripe separates the 

 coloring of the back fronv 

 that of the under surface 

 of the body, distinguish- 

 ing the African jRatel from- 

 its Indian cousin. 

 Haunts and The Ratel 

 Habits lives in sub- 

 0/ Ratels. terranean 

 burrows, which it exca- 

 vates for itself with in- 

 credible dexterity. It is^ 

 so slow and clumsy that it 

 could never escape its ene- 

 mies, were it not for this- 

 ability to bury itself, at 

 least in soft ground, dig- 

 ging a burrow so quickly 

 as to hide before its an- 

 tagonist has had time to- 

 attack it. Its habits are 

 nocturnal and it seldom 

 sallies forth in the day- 

 time. On our hunting 

 trip to the Bogos country 

 we saw the Ratel twice, both times in the eveningr 

 before sunset. At night it prowls around slowly, at 

 its own will, preying on small mammals, especially 

 Mice, or birds, Tortoises, Snails and worms; digging" 

 out roots or tubers, and looking for fruit. One pref- 

 erence determines its whole mode of life and gives- 

 it a distinguishing name : it is passionately fond of 

 honey and, therefore, is a zealous hunter of Bees, 

 The Ratel on In the treeless regions of Africa Bees- 

 the Hunt settle in all kinds of deserted holes in 

 for Honey, the ground, just like the Humble-bees- 

 and Wasps. Such a nest is the most welcome thing a 

 Ratel can find, and when discovered the creature pro- 

 ceeds to destroy it with marked satisfaction. The 

 Bees defend themselves as well as they can, seeking^ 

 to wound the enemy with their stings, but its hairy, 

 thick hide is an excellent shield, for it lies more 

 loosely on the subcutaneous layer of fat than that 

 of any other animal. The Ratel is said to be really 

 able to turn around in its skin. Bees are utterly 

 powerless before such an enemy, which greedily digs- 

 around in their abode and feasts on its contents. 



The Ratel is not only fond of honey, but also 

 looks for more substantial food. Carmichael says 



