NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



the cat subsided to the ground and lay still. Pres- 

 ently the Springhare again began to feed, whereupon 

 the stalker crept along. When it had covered 

 another ten yards it evidently realised the impossi- 

 bility of getting closer without being observed for, 

 with a bound, it cleared several feet, and before the 

 Springhares could even think of flight the cat was 

 in the midst of them, and succeeded in securing one 

 which it instantly carried off into the adjacent 

 thicket. In the past the Leopard and the Chita 

 levied a heavy toll upon the Springhare, but owing 

 to the depredations of these large carnivorous animals 

 among the stock of the farmer, they are hunted down 

 and shot and, although the Leopard is still found 

 sparingly in the wilder parts of the bush country, 

 even of the Cape Province, the Chita has become 

 rare, except in Rhodesia, and will ere long be extinct 

 in South Africa. 



The large cats, viz. the Caracal or Lynx (Felis 

 caracal) and the Serval or Bush Cat (Felis serval) are 

 still plentiful, and prey largely on the Springhare. 



There are several species of the Mungoose as well 

 as the Striped Muishond which seek out and devour 

 the Springhare and its progeny, for these animals 

 are of slender form, and are thus enabled to follow 

 the Springhare into its burrow. 



In spite, therefore, of this rodent being prolific, 



it is encompassed around by many enemies, and is 



not likely to increase unduly in numbers. It even 



falls a prey occasionally to the ever-watchful Eagle, 



162 



