THE STORY OF THE BADGER. 
345 
is applied to the ground in walking. The coat consists of a full soft under¬ 
fur, mingled with long stiff hairs. In color the Indian sand-badger is dirty 
grey both above and below, with a more or less marked blackish tinge on the 
hack, most of the individual hairs being dirty white throughout their length, 
but the longer ones on the back and sides having black tips. The head is 
white, with black bands, while the lower parts and limbs are dusky, the limbs 
being sometimes black. 
It frequents stony ground or small hills among jungle, and lives in fissures 
THE RATEL, OR HONEY BADGER. 
of the rocks or holes dug by itself. It is thoroughly nocturnal. In captivity 
it is dull and uninteresting, feeding on meats, fish, reptiles, or fruits, and it is 
particularly fond of earth-worms. One individual used to pass the day sleep¬ 
ing in a hole that it had dug, and was very savage if disturbed. When angry 
it made a loud grunting noise and bit fiercely. It was dull of sight, and its 
only acute sense appeared to* be that of smell. It was in the habit of raising 
its snout in the air in order to scent any one who approached, much as a pig 
does. This animal had no disagreeable smell. 
