THE SLENDER-TAILED MEERKAT 



Yet another Bushy-tailed Meerkat, but of a 

 different genus (Bdeogale crassicauda) is now regis- 

 tered as one of the South African fauna, it having 

 been procured south of the Zambesi, in Mossam- 

 bique. It occurs chiefly in East Africa, north of 

 the Zambesi. This species is distinguished by 

 having four toes to both fore and hind feet. 



THE SLENDER-TAILED MEERKAT 



(Suricata suricatta) 

 Syn. : 5. tetradactyla 



THIS little animal is the typical meerkat of South 

 Africa, and is known by all colonists as such. It 

 inhabits the karoo portions of the uplands of the 

 Cape Province right across from Namaqualand on the 

 west to Griqualand East, and northwards through 

 the Orange Free State and Great Namaqualand. 

 In the Uitenhage and Alexandria Divisions of the 

 Cape Province it is quite common ; so much so that 

 it has become a pest on many stock farms. 



This meerkat digs burrows out on the exposed 

 karoo, and lives in small colonies. When perse- 

 cuted by man they frequently wander off and live 

 in pairs, seeking less exposed situations for their 

 burrows. Like the Ground Squirrel and the Bushy- 

 tailed Meerkat, they have the habit of sitting erect 

 on their haunches and gazing curiously around. 

 This habit of sitting erect is very pronounced, 

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