THE CANE RAT 



so great is the antipathy of the average man to 

 snakes, that he shows the Python no mercy, not- 

 withstanding the fact of it rendering him the most 

 valuable of services. 



Major J. Stevenson-Hamilton in his most excellent 

 work Animal Life in Africa states that the Amatshan- 

 gana tribe of natives have a rather curious superstition 

 regarding the tail of the Cane Rat. This appendage 

 is carefully cut off and cast away before the village 

 is reached, for a married woman must on no account 

 be allowed to behold it. 



The Cane Rat, once seen, cannot easily be mis- 

 taken for any other animal. 



The head and body of an adult averages 20 inches, 

 and the tail about 7 inches. 



It is robustly built and attains a weight of twelve 

 pounds, and occasionally fourteen pounds. 



The body is destitute of fur, and is covered with 

 coarse bristles. These bristles are light brown at 

 their bases, and for the greater part of their length, 

 with a subterminal black ring, and dull yellow at the 

 tips, giving the animal a yellowish-brown appear- 

 ance. On examination the bristles will be noticed 

 to be flattened and grooved on their upper surfaces. 

 The ears are short, round, and barely visible amongst 

 the bristles. The upper lip and chin are dull white ; 

 fore limbs shorter than the back ones. Tail scaly 

 and sparsely covered with short, stiff hairs. Incisor 

 teeth broad and strong ; three deep grooves in those 

 of the upper jaw. 



VOL. IV 177 12 



