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 afra) inhabits South 
and South-Eastern Africa; it is replaced in North-Eastern Africa 
by the Ethiopian aard-vark (0. ethiopicus); 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. 
Distribution. 
Habits. 
