NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



to him that countless numbers of other living 

 creatures are living out their lives, and under more 

 strenuous conditions than is the case with him. 

 Perchance if he should give a thought to them, it 

 is with a desire to take a holiday, and armed with 

 a gun sally forth and wantonly wound and kill 

 them. 



It seems so ordained that in order that any crea- 

 ture might live, it must be capable of protecting 

 itself from the many enemies with which it is sur- 

 rounded, and which are ever on the alert to kill it. 

 Such is the way intelligence is evolved. It is an 

 unceasing struggle for the survival of the fittest, 

 and in that struggle those possessing the most 

 efficient physical body, and the most intelligent 

 brain, survive and perpetuate their species, and 

 thus transmit their superior qualities to their 

 descendants. 



The Bush Dassie has disappeared from many 

 districts owing to the felling of the trees, in the 

 hollow interiors of which they found ample shelter. 

 Whole districts in the past were denuded of trees, 

 the wood of which was used for firewood and for 

 fencing poles. 



This Bush Dassie is the size of an ordinary rabbit. 

 Unlike the rabbit, however, it is devoid of a tail, 

 and its ears are small. It can at once be distinguished 

 from the Klip or Rock Dassie by its grey fur, and a 

 white patch which is present on the lower part 

 of its back. Bruce's Dassie differs but little from 

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