136 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



they are present only in the cheeks, and are different in 

 formation and character from those of any other mammals, 

 being composed of closely packed columns of dentine, 

 devoid of enamel. 



THE PANGOLIN, or SCALY ANT-EATER. This is an 

 armadillo-like creature, covered, except underneath the 

 body and on the insides of the limbs, with broad, over- 

 lapping and horny scales of a dark brown colour. The 

 head is reptilian, the limbs are short, and the feet fur- 

 nished with long and powerful claws. The tail is long 

 and broad, being, like the body, covered with scales. 

 When full grown, the animal averages about forty inches 

 in length, over all, and appears to be found through 

 tropical Africa to about the latitude of the Orange River. 



It lives in both forest and open country, is solitary 

 and quite nocturnal, and spends the day underground 

 in burrows of its own manufacture. Its food consists 

 of ants and termites, which it captures by breaking into 

 their nests and licking them up with its long tongue. 

 It has no means of defence, except to roll itself up in a 

 ball within its armour. 



THE ANT-BEAR. The newcomer in the African veld 

 soon finds his attention attracted and his curiosity 

 excited by the number of yawning tunnels and holes, 

 which, in many districts, are to be seen everywhere 

 dotting the ground. Sometimes they appear singly, 

 while at others an area is literally honey-combed with 

 them. Partially or entirely hidden in long grass, as they 

 often are, they form a constant danger to horsemen, and 

 riding at speed, especially in a close country, necessitates 

 the utmost vigilance upon the part of both horse and 

 rider. Although African-bred ponies are marvellously 

 quick at avoiding, and even apparently guessing the 

 presence of these pitfalls, nevertheless many very bad 



