THE CANE RAT 



only dogs with which I could successfully hunt the 

 Cane Rats in these situations were fox-terriers 

 which, owing to their small size, were able to traverse 

 their beaten tracks. 



The Cane Rat is often hunted on moonlight nights 

 with dogs, when it is out foraging for food in the 

 farmer's cultivated fields. When surprised away from 

 its lair it falls an easy prey, for it is not a swift runner, 

 and a single nip from a dog will kill it. 



The natives regard the Cane Rat as a choice article 

 of food, and in consequence it is constantly hunted 

 by them with dogs. A Kafir will regard himself as 

 being amply repaid if, after a whole afternoon's hunt, 

 he secures a single Cane Rat. 



The flesh of the Cane Rat is soft, tender and very 

 palatable, and affords an excellent article of diet. 

 It is, like the hare and rabbit, purely a vegetable 

 feeder, and therefore there need be no scruple about 

 partaking of the meat. The Cane Rat could, with 

 advantage, be domesticated and bred as a food animal, 

 for its flesh is equal to that of the partridge and 

 pheasant, and much superior to that of the hare and 

 rabbit. When prepared for cooking, the body is 

 dipped into boiling water for a moment or two, and 

 the bristles are then scraped off with a blunt knife. 



The Cane Rat is covered with coarse bristles 

 which can be plucked out very easily. The skin 

 itself is peculiar in. its nature ; it is not elastic, and 

 consequently tears easily. 



In skinning and mounting these animals the great- 



17s 



