THE SPRINGHARE OR SPRINGHAAS 



hares began devouring them, and the result was that 

 about one-half of the crop was destroyed. 



On another occasion I was admiring a ten acre 

 field of beans which had just shot their heads above 

 ground, and unfolded their first pair of leaves to the 

 life-giving light and air. Returning in a week's 

 time, I observed the field was as bare as if it had 

 been ploughed and harrowed the previous day. 

 The Springhares, aided it seems by a few Duiker 

 bucks and hares, had in the interval eaten off every 

 plant. In localities where plenty of water is 

 available, it is an easy matter to capture the 

 Springhare for, if water is poured copiously down 

 the burrow the animal soon emerges, but in most 

 of the localities frequented by these animals the 

 rainfall is scanty, and in consequence no water is 

 available for many miles. Often during the process 

 of flooding the burrows, the Springhares tunnel to 

 the surface and, suddenly breaking the crust, they 

 race off to another hole. 



The Hottentot and the pygmy Bushman of the 

 past, however, thought nothing of carrying skin 

 bags filled with water many miles, if there was a 

 reasonable chance of securing a few of these rodents 

 for food. Sometimes a storm of rain sweeps over 

 the localities inhabited by Springhares. After the 

 rain, various hollow spots on the veld are filled with 

 water. These are known as " pans," and as the 

 bottom is composed of clay, the water does not soak 

 away, but remains until evaporated by the sun. 



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