NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



This appalling struggle for the survival of the 

 fittest has been going on for millions of years — 

 ever since the beginnings of life on our world. It 

 is still as keen and merciless as ever in the lov^er 

 animal world. 



Man is constantly interfering in this struggle, 

 usually with the result that the balance of Nature 

 is unwisely upset, and he brings calamity upon 

 himself in consequence. This unreasoning, wilful 

 interference with the creatures of veld, forest, 

 mountain and stream is alarmingly common. When 

 Man is less under the dominion of prejudice and 

 destructiveness, and is guided by an educated 

 intellect, he will learn that a considerable number 

 of the lower animals are valuable alhes, and instead 

 of, as at present, upsetting the balance of Nature 

 as he is now constantly doing, he will be able to 

 maintain the balance and control it for his special 

 advantage. 



In regard to its breeding habits, Bertie van 

 Musschenbrock writes me as follows : 



'' I caught one of these Jumping Shrews, and 

 she had two young ones. These were hanging on 

 to something on top of the shoulder blades. On 

 examination I found thev were two teats, one on 

 either side. I kept this little animal a few days 

 to watch its habits. She suckled her young and 

 carried them by these teats she has on her shoulders. 

 She lived on ants, beetles, etc. She seemed very 

 fond of her young, because when I let her go, she 



12 



