96 WEASELS. 



eggs in the ground, and is in consequence detested by the birds whose 

 nests are devastated. The ingenuity of the Caama in procuring the 

 contents of an ostrich's egg is rather remarkable. ^ The shell of the egg 

 is extremely thick and strong, and, as the Caama is but a small animal, 

 its teeth are unable to make any impression on so large, smooth, hard, 

 and rounded an object. In order, therefore, to obviate this difficulty, 

 the cunning animal rolls the egg along by means of its fore-paws, and 

 pushes it so violently against any hard substance that may lie conve- 

 nieutlv in its path, or against another egg, that the shell is broken and 

 the contents attainable. 



The fur of this animal is highly esteemed by the natives for the pur- 

 pose of making " karosses," or mantles. As the Asse is one of the 

 smallest of the Foxes, a great number of skins is needed to form a 

 single mantle, and the manufactured article is therefore held in high 

 value by its possessor. Indeed, so valuable is its fur that it tempts 

 manv of the Bechuana tribes to make its chase the business of their 

 lives, and to expend their whole energies in capturing the animal from 

 whose body the much-prized fur is taken. 



The continual persecution to which the Caama is subjected has almost 

 exterminated it in the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, where it was 

 formerly seen in tolerable plenty. Gradually, however, it retreats more 

 and more northward before the tread of civilized man, and at the 

 present day is but very rarely seen within the limits of the colony. 



WEASELS. 



Next in order to the dogs is placed the large and important family 

 of the Weasels, representatives of which are found in almost every 

 portion of the earth. There is something marvellously serpentine in 

 the aspect and structure of the members of this family — the Mustelidse, 

 as they are called, from the Latin word Mustela, which signifies " a 

 weasel." Their extremely long bodies and very short legs, together 

 with the astonishing perfection of the muscular powers, give them the 

 capability of winding their little bodies into the smallest possible 

 crevices, and of waging successful battle with animals of twenty times 

 their size and strength. 



First on the list of Weasels are placed the agile and lively Martens, 

 or Marten-Cats, as they are sometimes termed. Two species of 

 British Martens are generally admitted into our catalogues, although 

 the distinction of the species is even as yet a mooted point. 



The Pine Marten is so called because it is generally found in those 

 localities where the pine trees abound, and is in the habit of climbing 

 the pines in search of prey. It is a shy and wary animal, withdrawing 

 itself as far as possible from the sight of man, and, although a fierce 



