THE SCALY ANT-EATER OR PANGOLIN 



is supplemented by insects which are troublesome to 

 man. 



It burrows into the ground, but not so deeply 

 as does the Ant Bear. It also takes shelter under 

 ledges of rock and in rock cavities, and may often 

 be seen climbing amongst rocks. It is encountered 

 at times in mimosa-covered, sandy localities. When 

 desiring to view its surroundings I have seen it 

 scale almost vertical krantzes, where the rocks are 

 broken and rough and afford a foothold. The 

 Pangolin stands at full stretch upright, supported 

 by the tail and hind-feet. When suddenly surprised 

 it rolls its body into a ball, and so tightly does it 

 close up, and so closely do the armour plates cover 

 the unprotected under parts, that carnivorous animals 

 are powerless to harm it. When captured the 

 Pangolin makes no attempt to retaliate, and is a 

 perfectly inoffensive creature. Yet in spite of their 

 usefulness in keeping in check the destructive 

 termites and hosts of noxious insects including 

 the dreaded locust, they are hunted down and 

 destroyed, for what some men misname sport, but 

 which in reality is cowardly persecution of eminently 

 useful and innocent creatures. The chief offenders 

 are the natives of the country who kill and devour 

 great numbers of species of useful animals and their 

 young. 



A single young one is produced at a birth, and 

 when born the scales are soft and do not harden 

 for a day or two. 



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