NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



few minutes, after the manner of the kangaroo and 

 wallaby, and carefully surveys its surroundings. It 

 is well for the Springhare that its senses of smell, 

 hearing and sight are so acute, and its cautious 

 faculties so well developed, for its powers of defence 

 against a carnivorous foe are feeble. Animals 

 emerge from their retreats and seek their food at 

 various times during the day or night, according to 

 circumstances. The Springhare, for instance, hides 

 away in its burrow by day and emerges under the 

 cover of darkness, for the reasons that the vegetation 

 is more crisp and juicy at night, and its enemies are 

 fewer and more easily bafHed. However, although 

 nocturnal, its foes are many, and it is well for man 

 that they are so, for the Springhare, like most other 

 species of rodent creatures, breeds rapidly, and 

 would doubtless become as great a plague in South 

 Africa as the rabbits have proven in Australia. 



The Eagle Owl, of which there are several species 

 in this country, is a dreaded enemy of the Springhare, 

 for these birds, too, are nocturnal. Silently skimming 

 through the air, the Eagle Owl drops upon a Spring- 

 hare like the fall of a stone, and gripping it in its 

 powerful talons, batters its head with its strong, 

 curved beak until the victim ceases to struggle. 



Eagle Owls are particularly destructive to the 

 half-grown and younger Springhares, as these birds 

 unless forced by hunger hesitate before attacking 

 an adult Springhare, for the reason that it is 

 capable of sometimes inflicting severe injuries, and 



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