268 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
with stunted karoo bush, and full of Duyker Gries-buck and Bush- 
buck. Two kinds of hares frequented the plains; the larger kiud 
grey, furred like our rabbit, and a small red mountain species. On 
the plains were found enormous Jand tortoises, and many strange 
Sere nalure. Not the least singular of these were the Spring- 
hare, or “ Spring-hasen” of the colonists, a singular little animal of 
the Jerboa species, about the size of an ordinary hare, which 
burrows in the sand, and only emerges at night to feed, and 
which when wounded emits a most peculiar scream, like a penny 
trumpet. 
The authors “Cape Pheasant” is, of course, a Francolin. He 
describes it as much given to rnnning in the thick scrub, whence 
it is difficult to drive it, and it never rises on the wing unless com- 
pelled, when it mounts like a pheasant, and presents an easy mark 
to the sportsman. 
In the category of strange creatures to be found in this district 
Capt. Lucas includes the Ant-bear, or “ Aard-vark,” which not only 
inhabits the frontier, but is spread over all parts of the interior, the 
surface of the ground for miles being completely honeycombed 
with the excavations made by the claws of this indefatigable 
burrower in search of the daily ant-food on which he subsists. 
His soft muzzle and innocent calf-like head, with its mild bluish 
eyes, seem almost disproportionate, set upon his bulky shapeless 
frame, sparsely covered with scanty bristles. His porcine body, 
again, is at variance with his formidable claws and broad muscular 
fore-arms, which enable him to dig with ease his circular shaft, 
some two feet in diameter, in the hardest ground, descending 
vertically to a depth of three or four feet before it takes its lateral 
direction. These holes present a formidable obstruction to the 
hunter, when riding after larger game, and he is frequently rolled 
over in full career by the sudden subsidence of his horse’s fore- 
legs in one of these dangerous pitfalls. Capt. Lucas had several 
opportunities of observing the habits of this singular animal. 
He says :— 
“Tt leaves its shelter only at night, and is extremely shy and sensitive to 
discovery, making its earth close to the large ant-heaps, so numerously 
distributed over the Veldt. Here it scrapes a shallow trench in the upper 
surface, which has the effect of bringing out the Ants in great numbers ; 
then lying extended at full length, resting on its fore-paws, it launches out 
its prehensile tongue into the cavity, waiting patiently until it is completely 
