234 EDENTATES. 



is of remarkable thickness ; its general colour being yellowish brown, with a tinge 

 of red on the back and sides, while the head and under-parts are light reddish 

 yellow ; and the hind-quarters, the root of the tail, and the limbs brown. A full- 

 grown aard-vark measures a little over 6 feet in total length. 



The jaws are furnished with a considerable number of well-developed teeth, of 

 which all but the last three in each jaw have milk-predecessors, which do not, 

 however, cut the gum. In full-grown specimens there are usually five teeth on 

 each side of both upper and lower jaws ; but the total number of teeth developed is 

 from eight to ten in the upper, and eight in the lower jaw ; the anterior ones 

 falling out as the animal attains maturity. When unworn, these teeth, which are 

 of considerable size, have rounded summits. They are composed of a number of 

 closely-packed denticles, which by mutual pressure assume a polygonal form, and 

 are traversed by a series of radiating tubes; such a structure being unknown 

 elsewhere in the whole mammalian class. The skull has a complete cheek-arch ; 

 and the lower jaw is far less slender than in the pangolins. It has been considered 

 that the aard-varks are nearly-allied to the pangolins, but the result of more 

 recent observations has been to disprove this view ; and it is even doubtful 

 whether they should be included in the Edentate order, with the typical forms 

 of which these animals have but little in common, except so far as regards 

 the want of front teeth, and the absence of cement in the teeth of the cheek- 

 series. 



The typical Cape aard-vark (Orycteropus afro) inhabits South 



and South-Eastern Africa; it is replaced in North-Eastern Africa 

 by the Ethiopian aard-vark (0. cethiopicus) ', the former being distinguished by 

 the thicker coating of hair, more especially on the back and flanks, as well as by 

 the thicker and less elongated tail, and the longer head and ears. 



. The aard-varks are essentially nocturnal and burrowing in their 



habits ; and feed exclusively on termites and ants. In South Africa 

 their deep burrows are generally constructed in the neighbourhood of the tall 

 conical mounds formed by the termites ; and, in the old days, before these animals 

 were hunted for their skins, it used to be said that wherever termite-hills were 

 numerous, there an aard-vark might confidently be expected. Wherever these 

 animals are abundant, a number of half -formed holes are seen in the ground and 

 on the sides of the ant-hills, which have been commenced and abandoned. Aard- 

 varks usually spend the whole of the day asleep in their burrows, but may 

 occasionally be seen abroad in the early morning. Their powers of digging are so 

 great, that in a few minutes they can bury their large bodies, even when the 

 ground is hard and sun-baked. In digging, they work with their fore-feet, and 

 throw out huge clods of earth between their hind-legs. Aard-varks are quick of 

 hearing, and very shy, making off at the slightest sound to their burrows with 

 considerable speed. But little definitely is known as to their breeding-habits; 

 although it has been ascertained that the Ethiopian species gives birth during 

 May or June to a single offspring. At birth the young is naked and flesh- 

 coloured ; and is suckled by its parent for a long period. 



