* 'I lie 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 1 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 

 (Cent r opus 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 <>t 

 day, and the whole place seems void of any sign 

 of animal lite. Suddenly a shrill cry of warning seems 

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

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

 run skilfully up the lumper and other high trees, to 

 quickly disappear in the holes and crannies of the 

 branches. I hese are the tree-badgers, the /V/i'/r of 

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

 much pri/ed by the I'.uropeans, who have lateh taken 

 to exporting it. 



The natives catch the /V/V'/V.s in snares, and immense 

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

 The pursuit of the tree-badger is carried on \\ith great 

 /est, like that ot" the Mega monke\ . so that the animal is 

 rapidly decreasing in numbers. The hut-tax imposed on 

 tin; natives has the effect ot inciting them to a much 

 reater destruction ot" the animals than the \\ould under 



