174 THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



surrendered life without a struggle. This animal is 

 the aard-vark, or great ant-eater, which is always 

 regarded as strictly nocturnal in its habits, and, 

 therefore, creates no small amount of wonderment 

 in the minds of both, as to what should be the 

 reason that he is not at home in his burrow when 

 the sun is so high in the heavens. A close exami- 

 nation of the carcase told the story. In his snout 

 were found several punctures, in one of which 

 adhered a porcupine's quill. This was sufficient for 

 the beaters ; that one spine in a moment told them 

 the whole tale, for with the habits of the animals 

 of their own country they are as conversant as 

 School Board children are with their alphabet. One 

 of the head men therefore explained to me that, 

 while the aard-vark was abroad last night seeking 

 for his food, a porcupine had taken possession of 

 his home, and, instead of turning out, as an intruder 

 of an honest turn of mind should have done when 

 the legitimate proprietor returned, refused to vacate 

 the warm nest he had stolen into, thus proving that 

 there are other animals than human ones which 

 consider possession nine points of the law. 



Thus the poor aard-vark had to sleep where he 



