Mykmecopuagidje.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-Dasypid-e. 



149 



The female brings forth a single cub at a birth. For 

 sorue months the young preserves a pale-yellow colom-, 

 and is carried about on tlie back of its parent until it 

 is able to shift for itself 



THE AAED-VAKK ( OrycteropusCapcnsis) or Ground- 

 hog, differs from tlie foregouig iu several important 

 particiilars. Some of diese wo have already described 

 in om- introductory observations ; but we have further 

 to observe regarding tire feet, that they are compara- 

 tively shorter and stouter tlian obtains in the trae 

 ant-eaters, tlio anterior pair bemg tetradaetylous, and 

 the posterior peutadactylous. A very distmctive char- 

 acter is seen in the head, which is furnished with large 

 poiuted ears ; while the taU, being of moderate length, 

 not so long as the body, is very thick, romided at the 

 root, and densely clothed with hair (fig. 50). Alto- 

 gether it is a stout, heavy animal, the large bones 



of the neck in particular demonstrating its strength 

 in the cervical region. The fiu', which is very scanty, 

 exhibits a gi'eyish-bro'wn colour generally. The per- 

 manent teeth of the adult, twenty in number, have a 

 simple form and structm'e, being made up of rootless 

 cylinders, tlioso in front displaying a slightly flattened 

 aspect at die sides. The Aard-vark is a very common 

 animal throughout the southermnost parts of Africa. It 

 is rather larger than the common badger, attainmg a 

 length of upwards of fom' feet. Its habits are noc- 

 turnal, and it constructs large subterraneous burrows 

 ^\^th extrordinary rapidity. It appears to live entirely 

 upon ants, and for this purpose the tongue is largely 

 developed, and armed with a glutinous secretion. 

 This organ, however is not so long as in the tnie ant- 

 eaters, whUc it is at the same time more flattened and 

 attenuated. The Aard-vark invariably fixes his retreat 



Fig. 50. 



The A;ira-vait or Oruuud-lioy (Uryclerupus Ciiytnsis}. 



near to some large ants' nests, which he ventures only to 

 attack after dark. He is a timid creature, and does not 

 move far from his burrow ; and when attacked, should 

 he succeed in gaining access to his abode, it is next to 

 impossible to get him out ; for it is said he can buiTow 

 faster than his enemies can dig. According to those 

 who have witnessed its method of procuring food, the 

 Aard-vark, having approached an ant-hill, forthwith 

 proceeds to scratch a smaU part of it, just sufficient to 

 allow of the introd\iction of its long, narrow snout. 

 These ant-hUls, it must be remembered, are sometimes 

 three or four feet in height, and contain myriads of 

 insect inhabitants — strongly ensconced in fancied 

 security complete ! " Here," observes Mr. Ogilby, 

 " ;iftcr ha-^ang previously ascertained that there is no 

 danger of mterruption, ho lies down, and inserting his 

 long slender tongue into the breach, entraps the ants, 

 which fly to defend their dwellings upon the first alami, 

 and, mounting upon the tongue of the Aard-vark, get 

 entangled in the glutuioua saUva, and are swallowed 



bj' whole scores at a time. If uninterrupted he coii-_ 

 tinues tliis process till he has satisfied his appetite; but 

 on the slightest alarm he makes a precipitate retreat, 

 and seeks security at the bottom of his subterranean 

 dwelluig. Hence it is that these animals are seldom 

 seen, even in those parts of the country in which they 

 are most numerous. Like other nocturnal animals, 

 passmg the greater part of their lives in sleeping and 

 eating, tliey become exceedingly fat, and their flesli is 

 considered to be wholesome and palatable food. Tlic 

 hind quarters particidarly, when cut uito hams and 

 dried, p.re held in gi-eat esteem." 



Family III.— DASYPID^. 



Under this title are brought together an interesting 

 little group of animals familiarly known as the Arma- 

 dillos. We treat of them in this place because they 

 represent a type of structure intermediate between the 

 ant-eaters and tlie family we have next to consider — 



