102 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



manner of a kangaroo, but it can also crawl along in 

 a more leisurely manner. When captured young it 

 becomes very tame and makes an interesting pet. The 

 natives catch them by means of a horsehair or v^ire 

 noose set in the mouth of the burrow. It is a des- 

 tructive animal in cultivated lands, devouring the growing 

 crops. Captive specimens have shown a partiality to 

 oats. It chews with rapidity. 



Family OCTODONTID.^. 



(Ctenodactylidae.) 



All four limbs provided with five claws. Clavicles 

 imperfect. 



Petromys typicus. Boch Bat. Nofci Bot. 



Colour grey brown or slaty, the hinder part of the 

 back and point of the muzzle bright chestnut. Below 

 dirty white. Whiskers long and black. Tail slightly 

 shorter than head and body and covered by long black 

 hairs. Length of head and bodv 5J inches. Tail 

 5 1 inches. 



Dentition : Incisors 1-1, canines 0-0, premolars 1-1, 

 molars 3-3 = 20. This animal has so far only been 

 found in the rocky mountains of Namaqualand. 



Thryonomys swinderianus. Cane Bat. Biet Bot. 



This is a stout, rat-like animal with a short tail and 

 bristly fur of a speckled yellow and brow^n colour above ; 

 paler below. It is the largest rodent in South Africa 

 (excluding the Porcupine), being from 12 to 20 inches 

 in length, with a tail of 6 to 7 inches. It ranges from 

 the Eastern Cape Colony through Natal and the Eastern 

 Transvaal, northwards to the Congo and East x\frica. It 



