210 On the Mammalia of the 



it alone, are weak and small, the great carnivorous tooth of 

 the dog, hyaena, and jackal, is wanting, and the only sub- 

 stitute for the molars are a few separate small lancet-shaped 

 teeth, which it is stated it retains through life. These are 

 seen in specimens of full growth, so that they are not milk 

 teeth. It only resembles the dog in having incisors and ca- 

 nines in the upper and lower jaw, the former of which seem 

 much used, being worn by the frequent act of cropping or bit- 

 ing. Incisors j, canines y — p, molars ^ = 34. Its ears are 

 long, and erect like the hyaena, and there is a anal odori- 

 ferous gland. 



The Ratel (Viverra mellivord) is a common inhabitant of 

 the bush, and may be accidentally met with, or flushed by dogs 

 on its scent, which is strong. Tt feeds on honey nests, though 

 sometimes attacking the hen-roost and domestic fowls. The 

 ratel follows the note and leading of the honey-bird, and an- 

 swers it by a low grunt ; a peculiar odour it emits drives away 

 the bees, and the ratel digs out the different pieces of comb.and 

 piles them outside the cavity, on which it repasts, but leaves 

 some portion for a subsequent meal, part of which, of course, 

 is shared by the honey-bird. It is very difficult to kill by 

 dogs, from the great thickness of its skin and the coarseness 

 of the hair, which also afford it protection from the stings of 

 the bees. Its skin is used by the boers for soles of shoes. 

 A heavy blow on the nose is stated to be the most vulner- 

 able wound, and this peculiar vulnerability is shared by the 

 porcupine. It is characterized by the large distinctly-bounded 

 patch of dull ash-gray fur on its back, bounded on the sides 

 by black stripes, and extending from the head to the tail. 



Two or three different kinds of Mousehund, or weasel 

 (Mustela), are commonly seen now and then running sharply 

 from one bush to another, or they may be turned out by dogs. 

 One variety (Zorilla) has its fur variegated by longitudinal 

 black and dirty yellowish-white stripes, extending from the 

 nose to the tail, and emits a very strong odour, when attacked 

 or disturbed, from its anal gland, so that many dogs refuse to 

 attack it — also then erecting its tail, and uttering a peculiar 

 scream. In skinning such an animal, care must be taken 

 not to wound this gland, else its secretion pouring out will 



