292 J. w. BEws. 



and hollows known as " kommetjes " by the Dutch farmer. 

 Such kommetjes almost always overlie ferruginous gravel. 



5. Mammals. — Among the mammals the rodents produce 

 the chief effect on vegetation. The Cape Clerbille, Clerbillus 

 af er Gray, is sometimes exceedingly common, and a portion 

 of veld may be riddled with the burrows. The food consists 

 of bulbs and seeds. The common rat appears to be a brown 

 variety of the black rat, Mus rattus Lin., and it does con- 

 siderable damage in consuming large quantities of grain. The 

 mole rat, G e o r y c h u s h o 1 1 e n t o t u s (Lesson) , i s common ; it 

 burrows like a sand-mole, throwing up heaps of mould at 

 intervals. Bulbs and tubers constitute the chief food ; the 

 Cape species is said to remove the " eyes " of potatoes and 

 the central bud of bulbs to prevent sprouting. The spring- 

 haas, Pedetes calfer [Pallas), occurs plentifully in the 

 northern portions of Natal. It forms extensive deep burrows 

 and feeds on roots and also green vegetation, and may be 

 destructive to crops. The cane rat, Thryonomya s win- 

 der eni anus [Temin), is common in certain districts, especially 

 in the sugar-fields. It consumes large quantities of roots and 

 young green shoots, and is especially fond of sugar-cane. The 

 porcupine, Hystrix africa?-australis Peters, devours 

 great quantities of potatoes, maize, pumpkins, etc. 



The aard-vark or ant bear, Orycteropus afer {Pallas), 

 Avhich feeds on termites, may be mentioned here on account 

 of the large burrows which it forms in the veld. In disused 

 burrows characteristic clusters of ferns (Nephr odium 

 athamanticum), and possibly other plants, very frequently 

 grow, these being absent from the general veld. 



6. Man. — Perhaps it may be permissible to mention here 

 the destructive native. It is chiefly the bush that suffers. 

 In building his huts he forms a frame-work of young trees. 

 He shows the most marked preference for all the more valuable 

 kinds. An enormous amount of valuable timber is thus 

 destroyed. Further, it has been the custom in the past for 

 the native to burn down parts of the bush and to grow 

 mealies in the clearing. Though the soil of the bush is not in 



