AARD-VARKS. 2 33 



THE AARD-VARKS. 

 Family ORYCTEROPODIDsE. 



The name aard-vark, or earth-pig, has been applied by the Dutch Boers of the 

 Cape to the southern representative of the second group of Old- World Edentates, 

 of which there are two living species exclusively confined to Africa. To the 

 English colonists of South Africa the Cape species is known as the ant-bear ; while 

 by the zoologist the aard-varks are termed Orycteropus, and collectively constitute 

 a very distinct family group. In addition to the two living forms, the remains of 



THE ETHIOPIAN AARD-VARK. (From Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. t 1876.) 



an extinct species have been discovered in the Pliocene deposits of the island of 

 Samos; while those of another have been recorded from the Oligocene beds of 

 France. 



In appearance both species of aard-vark are singularly ungraceful, not to say 

 ugly. Thus the body, which may be either almost naked or sparsely clad with 

 bristly hairs, is heavy and ungainly; the head greatly elongated, with a small 

 tubular mouth, and somewhat pig-like snout ; the ears of enormous length, and the 

 tail thick, cylindrical, and tapering, and nearly equal in length to the body. The 

 neck is very short ; the fore-quarters are short compared with the hinder part 

 of the body; and the back is much arched. The tongue is long and extensile, 

 although not so completely worm-like as that of the pangolins ; and the round 

 nostrils are situated at the extremity of the truncated muzzle. The fore-limbs 

 are rather short, but very powerful ; they have four toes, with moderate-sized, 

 strong nails ; and, in walking, the entire sole of the foot is applied to the ground. 

 The hind-feet have five toes of nearly equal size, each carrying a nail. The skin 



