-^ The Tree-Badger 



of the tiny creatures there. Like elves these tree- 

 badgers play about on the trunks of the trees, and 

 the whole night they are coming and going over our 

 heads. I have heard them, too, in wooded ravines on 

 the plains, when I have been after elephants. In 

 the branches of leafy trees they could be heard the 

 whole night, their cries mingling with that of a cuckoo 

 {Centropiis supcrciliosus) that often uttered its call in the 

 early morning hours. " Tippu-tippu " the coast-people call 

 this cuckoo. 



Tree-badgers are often visible by daylight. You may 

 be making your way into the gloomy recesses of the 

 forest, where the thick foliage shuts out the light of 

 day, and the whole place seems void ot any sign 

 of animal life. Suddenly a shrill cry of warning seems 

 to rise from the red-footed francolin at your feet, and, 

 terrified by its own cry, the rabbit-like little creatures 

 run skilfully up the juniper and other high trees, to 

 quickly disappear in the holes and crannies of the 

 branches. These are the tree-badgers, the pelclc of 

 the natives, the fur of which is made into coats and is 

 much prized by the Europeans, who have lately taken 

 to exporting it. 



The natives catch the peltries in snares, and immense 

 numbers of these little beasts have been taken of late years. 

 The pursuit of the tree-badger is carried on with great 

 zest, like that of the Bega monkey, so that the animal is 

 rapidly decreasing in numbers. The hut-tax imposed on 

 the natives has the effect ot inciting them to a much 

 greater destruction of the animals than they would under- 



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