THE AARD VARK OR EARTH HOG 



of the cage, but at nightfall they awaken and be- 

 come very active. Ant-Eaters in captivity must be 

 kept warm or they will certainly die. The tempera- 

 ture of the air should be as high or higher than that 

 in their deep burrows in the ground. 



When sleeping, the head, tail and limbs are folded 

 up after the manner of a sleeping dog. 



The Ant-Eater is known as an Edentate or 

 toothless animal. It, however, possesses a limited 

 number of molar teeth, usually five in each jaw. 

 Sometimes the lower jaw only contains four. The 

 teeth are loosely set in the sockets, and are quite 

 destitute of enamel. The teeth in the young 

 animals are rounded at the summits, but with wear 

 they become flat. These remarkable teeth which 

 are devoid of enamel and without tapering roots, 

 grow from the bottom upwards during the life of 

 the animal, and are kept from over-development by 

 constant use. They are comparatively soft and 

 easily wear down. The flat base of the tooth 

 when examined, is seen to be full of tiny holes 

 which run upwards. Into each of these, tendrils 

 run, which convey the nourishment for the constantly 

 growing tooth. 



The inoffensive and eminently useful Aard Vark 

 is frequently hunted and killed by colonists for the 

 sake of its flesh or hide. By others it is hunted 

 with dogs and destroyed for *' sport." This form 

 of so-called sport we might expect to find still active 

 in uncivilised people, but not in educated Europeans. 



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