THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



the high mountain ranges, from which it makes 

 extensive flights in search of food, which consists 

 largely of Klip Dassies. 



The Southern Lammcrgeyer {Gypatus ossifragus)^ 

 known to the Dutch as the Lammervanger, which 

 means lamb-catcher, is another bird which haunts 

 the mountains and preys on the Dassie. 



In Natal, Zululand and some other parts of South 

 Africa, the Python {Python scbcs) is a formidable 

 enemy of the Dassie. This great snake, which 

 attains a length of 20 feet, lies concealed in the rocky 

 haunts of the Dassie, and captures them when they 

 happen to come within reach. Lying coiled in a 

 clump of bush, the snake, with an incredibly swift 

 motion, darts out with gaping jaws, and should it 

 succeed in getting a grip with its sharp recurved 

 teeth, there is no hope of escape for the victim, for 

 in an instant the great coils are around it, which 

 within a couple of minutes crush the life out of it. 

 The Dassie is then swallowed whole. 



A belief is widespread in South Africa that there 

 is a snake of great size which lives among the rocks. 

 It is alleged to possess the body of a snake, and the 

 head and shoulders of a Dassie. It is known as the 

 Dassie-Adder. Needless to say, there is no such 

 snake. The belief probably had its origin in a 

 Hottentot or other native suddenly coming across 

 a Rock Leguan (Varanus albigulanis). The man 

 no doubt rushed away in an extremity of terror, 

 and his distorted imagination deceived him into 



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