628 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
compact, and the outer one composed of long hair. Its coloring is brown with 
a slight admixture of gray. It prefers finding a hollow or deserted nest to 
building a structure of its own. It will fight to the bitter end and is an 
adversary respected by dog and man. Once it fastens its teeth in anything it 
will hang on with the tenacity of a bull-terrier. It weighs about twenty 
pounds, is about three feet in length, and in eating holds its food with its fore 
paws, ’its hind feet are like a seal’s, but, though swimming with ease and 
rapidity, it can run swiftly. Its fur is held in special esteem. It is trained to 
catch fish for its master, who will at once take them away. The use of the 
otter as a fisherman is most common in China and India. 
The Cape Ratel, Honey Weasel, or Honey Ratel (. Mellivora capensis , 
Ratelus capensis) ,.is South African in habitat, and goes dressed in the thickest, 
furriest, loosest of skin. It is a 'burrower and manifests quickness only when 
burrowing. It is a persistent honey-hunter, although entirely dependent upon 
nests not built in trees. Its covering is an absolute protection against the 
sting of the bee, as its looseness is against any rough handling on the part of 
other enemies. In captivity 
it is very fond of attracting 
attention, and to secure this 
end will convert itself into 
a regular mountebank. The 
prevailing black color of its 
body is relieved by gray on 
the upper part of the head, 
neck, back and tail, and a 
stripe on each of its sides. 
The Indian Ratel {Mel¬ 
livora indicus , Ratelus irdi- 
cus ,) is regarded by some nat¬ 
uralists as a distinct species, 
and by others as substantially 
identical with the Cape 
European badger ( Meles taxus ). 
Ratel. But its habits are different, as it is so ghoulish in its tastes that ceme¬ 
teries must be protected lest it burrow and disinter the corpses. 
The Badger {Meles vulgaris ), though naturally inoffensive, is so worthy 
an antagonist when forced to close quarters, that “ badger baiting ” formed a 
favorite sport during the times when cruelty seemed to be an essential element 
of enjoyment. It is slow and clumsy in walking, but can out-dig any sexton. 
In burrowing it uses its nose and hind legs for pushing the earth away. Its 
home comprises at least three rooms; a living-room, a larder, and a room for 
refuse. It has a white head with black frame, a grayish-red body, and brown 
chest, belly, legs and feet. It can be domesticated, and is lest stupid than is 
generally supposed. 
The American Badger {Taxidea americana) is quite abundant, aud while 
regarded as a separate species, its characteristics have not as yet been fully 
studied. 
The Teledu, Skunk of Java, Stinking Badger, or Stinkard (Mydans 
meliceps ), roots in the earth on the elevated table-lands. It digs a circular earth- 
cave at the foot of some tree and is very scrupulous about its regularity and 
