NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



issues forth at dusk. When alarmed, it bounds off 

 with great leaps to its burrow, into which it dis- 

 appears. Its food consists of insects and their larvae. 

 Termites are a favourite food when procurable. At 

 certain seasons these Termites or ** White Ants " 

 send off from their colonies hosts of fertile winged 

 males and females ; and at these times the Jumping 

 Shrews have a right royal banquet, for these 

 winged Termites very soon lose their wings and 

 fall to the ground or settle on the herbage, from 

 which they are captured by the Jumping Shrews, 

 which hop up and secure them with a snap of the 

 jaws. 



The Cape Jumping Shrew is about 5 inches in 

 length, not including the tail, which averages 4I 

 inches. When examined anatomically, it will be 

 found to differ from other species in the following 

 ways : 



(i) It has ten teeth on either side in the lower 

 jaw. 



(2) The ears are oval, long and brown. 



(3) The hind-foot measures 1*15. 



(4) Sandy-brown on the back and sides, with a 

 faint reddish tinge ; under parts white. On close 

 examination the thick soft fur on the back will be 

 seen to be slate-coloured for two-thirds and more 

 of its length from the base, the tips only being 

 sandy-brown. 



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