. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE RATEL. S3 forages far and wide for her offspring, and lays up the produce of her chase in certain cunningly-contrived larders. In a wood belonging to Lord Bagot, a Stoat nursery was discovered, having within it no less than six inhabitants, a mother and her five young. Their larder was supplied with five hares and four rabbits, neither of which had been in the least mangled, with the exception of the little wound that had caused their death. In the clumsy-looking animal which is called the Ratel, a beautiful adaptation of nature is manifested. Cover
. The popular natural history . Zoology. THE RATEL. S3 forages far and wide for her offspring, and lays up the produce of her chase in certain cunningly-contrived larders. In a wood belonging to Lord Bagot, a Stoat nursery was discovered, having within it no less than six inhabitants, a mother and her five young. Their larder was supplied with five hares and four rabbits, neither of which had been in the least mangled, with the exception of the little wound that had caused their death. In the clumsy-looking animal which is called the Ratel, a beautiful adaptation of nature is manifested. Covered from the tip of the nose to the insertion of the claws with thick, coarse, and rough fur, and provided more- over with a skin that lies very loosely on tie body, the Ratel is marvellously adapted to the peculiar life which it leads. Although the Ratel is in all probability indebted for its food to various sources, the diet which it best loves is composed of the combs and young of the honey-bee. So celebrated is the animal for its predilection for this sweet dainty that it has earned for itself the title of Honey Ratel, or Honey Weasel. The reason for its extremely thick coating of fur is now evident. The animal is necessarily exposed to the attacks of the infuriated bees when it lays siege to their fastnesses, and if it were not defended by a coating which is impene- trable to their stings, it would soon fall a victim to the poisoned weapons of its myriad foes. During the daytime the Ratel remains in its burrow; but as evening begins to draw near, it emerges from its place of repose, and sets off on its bee- hunting expeditions. As the animal is unable to climb trees, a bees' nest that is made in a hollow tree-limb is safe from its attacks. But l;he greater number of wild bees make their nests in the deserted mansions of the termite, or the forsaken burrows of various animals. It is said that the Ratel finds its way towards the bees' nests by watching the direction in which
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
