Chap. XXXIV.] SOUTHERN AFRICA SOI 



insects, unequivocal marks of their desolating visits. 

 Of these the Ant-bear, or Aard vark* of the colo- 

 nists, is the more common ; it is from six to seven 

 feet in extreme length, covered with coarse brown 

 hair, and furnished with a slimy, flexible tongue, 

 capable of being protruded to the extent of eigh- 

 teen or twenty inches beyond the attenuated snout. 

 It possesses the singular peculiarity of walking, or 

 rather hobbling, upon the sides instead of upon the 

 soles, of its fore-feet. The latter are provided with 

 four robust nails, which form a complete rake, and 

 with which the animal digs into the bowels of the 

 mound, its taper tongue being always in readiness 

 to seize the swarming inmates as fast as they issue 

 from their beleaguered abode. 



Although differing greatly in external appear- 

 ance, the equipments, as well as the habits, of the 

 second species, are essentially the same. Seen 

 from a distance, the Pangolin, or jManit;,f might 

 easily be mistaken for a small alligator. The 

 upper parts of the body are clad in a complete suit 

 of flexible armour, consisting of numerous stout 

 horny scales, overlapping each other like the tiles 

 of a house, and presenting an appearance precisely 

 similar to the bark of the brab tree. Possessing 

 also, the power of roUing itself into a ball hke a 

 hedgehog, this otherwise defenceless animal is at 

 once rendered perfectly invulnerable to the attacks 

 of its foes. 



The soil in this neighbourhood was black ; and 



* Orycteropns Capensis. f Manis Tf,nmin:l.ii. 



