NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



lambs out upon the hillside or veld during the day- 

 time. If kids or lambs are killed during the day, 

 and afterwards found with their stomachs torn out, 

 then in all probability baboons are the offenders. 



Even if the assertion were true that the Manhaar 

 Jakhals occasionally eat the eggs of ostriches, the 

 number so devoured must be insignificant. The 

 reasons are several. Many farmers artificially in- 

 cubate their ostrich eggs. The majority of those 

 who allow them to hatch normally take care that 

 the nest is in a camp near to the farmhouse, especi- 

 ally in the parts of the country which are infested 

 with Kafir dogs, and the larger carnivorous animals 

 such as the leopard, lynx, wild dog, and Cape 

 Jackal. Even supposing a nest was remote from the 

 homestead, it is even then highly improbable that 

 such a timid nervous creature as the Aard Wolf 

 would be so bold as to actually drag the eggs from 

 under the cock ostrich, for it must be borne in mind 

 that the male bird sits upon the eggs during the 

 hours of darkness when the Aard Wolf is on the 

 prowl, and that at the breeding season he is fierce 

 and aggressive. A Cape Jackal is capable of steal- 

 ing an egg or two from under a sitting bird if the 

 night be dark, but, judging from the disposition 

 of the Aard Wolf, such a proceeding is extremely 

 unlikely. 



Again, these animals being nocturnal, is it likely 

 that a farmer will sit up throughout the night on 

 the off-chance of seeing a Manhaar Jakhal kill or 



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