82 Reviews and Extracts. 
of ucai-ly eqiuil leng'lli, but are mucli shorter, ami proportionally, murli less pow- 
erful, than those of the anterior members •, the total length of the animal is about 
three feet, of which its tail forms more than one-sixth ; its height does not exceed 
ten or twelve inches ; and the length of its foro claws, when not worn down by 
constant use, is about an iiich and a half. 
With respect to the habits of these animals, we shall give an abstract of Sparr- 
man's version of the relation of the Hottentots and of the Dutch Colonists, which 
has been adopted by all subsequent writers. The bees, according to our author, 
furnish the Ratel witii his principal, if not his only means of subsistence, These 
insects are accustomed to take up their abode in holes :n the earth, formed by 
various burrowing quadrupeds, and the Ratol is endowed with peculiar sagacity 
for discovering their nests, which it undermines with its powerful claws, in order 
to feast upon the honey contained in them. Avtare that sunset is the period at 
which the bees return to their homes, it chooses tiiat time for making its observa- 
tions, which are conducted in a very curious inantier — Seated upon the ground, 
with one of its paws raised, so as to shade from its eyes the rays of the declinino^ 
(un, it peers cautiously on either side of this singular kind of parasol, until it per- 
ceives a number of bees dying in the same direction ; these it carefully marks 
and follows in their track, until it has safely lodged them in their nest, which it 
immediately commences pillaging. I5ut if it should happen, that, contrary to 
their UnUuI custom, they have built in the hollow of a tree, the Ratel, being un- 
able to climb, and angry at his disappointment, wreaks his vengeance upon the 
senseless stock, by biting round it; and the Hottentots know well that such niark.s 
on the trunk of a tree, are certain indications of a bees' nest being contained 
within it. 
It is added that the Ratel, as well as the native inhabitants of the Cape of Good 
Hope, is sometimes guided in this search after honej, by a little bird, the Cucu- 
I'.is Indicator, or Honey Cuckoo, which it seems, has sagacity enough to know, 
that both men and blasts are fond of the tempting spoil. This little creature, al- 
though incapable of storming a hive in its own person, takes advantage of the 
propensity in others, who are better fitted for the task, and invites the Hottentot or 
Ratel to follow it, by a peculiar note which they both equally understand. Hav- 
ing thus secured their attention, it flies slowly on before them, alternately halting 
for them to come up with it, and then taking another flight; still admonishing 
them by its warning voice, until it arrives at the spot where the hidden treasure is 
deposited, then it suddenly ceases to be heard, but remains quietly perched on a 
tree in the vicinity, waiting for a share of the plunder, which it usually receives 
as a reward for its interested service. 
In such an attack upon an angry swarm, the toughness of the Ratel's hide must 
be an eflectual defence ; and it is even stated, that so difficult is it to penetrate 
its skin, that a pack of dogs which would be sufficient to despatch a moderate 
sized Hon, have sometimes failed in their attack upon so comparatively insignificant 
an animal. Such is its tenacity of life, that Mr. Barrow states, "it is a species 
of amusement for the farmers, to run knives through different parts of its body, 
without biiing able for a length of time to deprive it of existence.'' Major Den- 
ham however, was informed by the natives of Central Africa, that a single blow 
on the nose, was sufficient to destroy it almost instantaneously : in the same regions 
it has obtained credit for so much ferocity, as to be said at certain seasons, to ven- 
ture singly to,;attae^ a_man. 
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