MAMMALIA. DASYPID.E. 



149 



I 



The female brings forth a single cub at a birth. For 

 some months the young preserves a pale-yellow colour, 

 and is carried about on the back of its parent until it 

 is able to shift for itself. 



THE AAED-VAEK ( Orycteropus Capensis] or GROUND- 

 HOG, differs from the foregoing in several important 

 particulars. Some of these we have already described 

 in our introductory observations ; but we have further 

 to observe regarding the feet, that they are compara- 

 tively shorter and stouter than obtains in the true 

 ant-eaters, the anterior pair being tetradactylous, and 

 the posterior pentadactylous. A very distinctive char- 

 acter is seen in the head, which is furnished with large 

 pointed ears ; while the tail, being of moderate length, 

 not so long as the body, is very thick, rounded at the 

 root, and densely clothed with hair (fig. 50). Alto- 

 gether it is a stout, heavy animal, the large bones 



of the neck in particular demonstrating its strength 

 in the cervical region. The fur, which is very scanty, 

 exhibits a greyish-brown colour generally. The per- 

 manent teeth of the adult, twenty in number, have a 

 simple form and structure, being made up of rootless 

 cylinders, those in front displaying a slightly flattened 

 aspect at the sides. The Aard-vark is a very common 

 animal throughout the southernmost parts of Africa. It 

 is rather larger than the common badger, attaining a 

 length of upwards of four feet. Its habits are noc- 

 turnal, and it constructs large subterraneous burrows 

 with extrordinary rapidity. It appears to live entirely 

 upon ants, and for this purpose the tongue is largely 

 developed, and armed with a glutinous secretion. 

 This organ, however is not so long as in the true ant- 

 eaters, while it is at the same time more flattened and 

 attenuated. The Aard-vark invariably fixes his retreat 



Fiff. 50. 



Ground-hog (Orycteropus Capensis). 



near to some large ants' nests, which he ventures only to 

 attack after dark. He is a timid creature, and does not 

 move far from his burrow ; and when attacked, should 

 he succeed in gaining access to his abode, it is next to 

 impossible to get him out ; for it is said he can burrow 

 faster than his enemies can dig. According to those 

 who have witnessed its method of procuring food, the 

 Aard-vark, having approached an ant-hill, forthwith 

 , proceeds to scratch a small part of it, just sufficient to 

 allow of the introduction of its long, narrow snout. 

 These ant-hills, it must be remembered, are sometimes 

 three or four feet in height, and contain myriads of 

 insect inhabitants strongly ensconced in fancied 

 security complete ! " Here," observes Mr. Ogilby, 

 "after having previously ascertained that there is no 

 danger of interruption, he lies down, and inserting his 

 long slender tongue into the breach, entraps the ants, 

 which fly to defend their dwellings upon the first alarm, 

 and, mounting upon the tongue of the Aard-vark, get 

 entangled in the glutinous saliva, and are swallowed 



by whole scores at a time. If uninterrupted he con- 

 tinues this process till he has satisfied his appetite ; but 

 on the slightest alarm he makes a precipitate retreat, 

 and seeks security at the bottom of his subterranean 

 dwelling. Hence it is that these animals are seldom 

 seen, even in those parts of the coTintry in which they 

 are most numerous. Like other nocturnal animals, 

 passing the greater part of their lives in sleeping and 

 eating, they become exceedingly fat, and their flesh is 

 considered to be wholesome and palatable food. The 

 hind quarters particularly, when cut into hams and 

 dried, are held in great esteem." 



FAMILY IH. DASYPH)^. 



Under this title are brought together an interesting 

 little group of animals familiarly known as the Arma- 

 dillos. We treat of them in this place because they 

 represent a type of structure intermediate between the 

 ant-eaters and the family we have next to consider 



