Z()OI.()(.KAI. SOCIETY BLLLETIN 



CAPE AARD VARK 



CcnsiKned to the Society. Iiiit died i 



animals usually spend the entire day asleep in 

 their burrows, but may occasionally be seen 

 abroad during tlie ver}- early morning. Their 

 powers of digging are so great that in a few 

 minutes they cm 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. While shy, and usually making off 

 toward the burrow if disturbed, they are furi- 

 ous fighters when cornered, and even a jiower- 

 ful dog has but a scant cjiance for life if with- 

 in range of the fore limbs, with tluir huge and 

 sharp claws. 



Little is known of the breeding habits of these 

 animals beyond the fact that the young are 

 born in May or June, and that tiiere is seldom 

 more th.in a single offspring at birth. The 

 few capti\es that have come to Eurojje have 

 been fed upon chopped raw beef mixed with 

 beaten eggs., which is the standard diet for 

 ant-eaters when on exhibition. The Aard-\'arU 

 (earth pig), is a title applied by the Boers. 



The first specimen ever brougiit alive to Eng- 

 land was ca))tured in ISfiO near Algoa Bay, 

 Natal, and sold for $750. It lived in captivity 

 nearly ten years. Erom 1900 to 1902, ten 

 specimens were captured and offered for sale, 

 but since that time interest in the capture of 

 tlie "Earth-Pig" has waned. It is reasonably 

 certain that these animals never will become 

 common in captivity. 



The first skin of an Aard-Vark that ever 

 was seen in Europe was taken in 1812. There 

 is now in the South Kensington Museum of 

 London, a mounted skin that dates back 

 to 1811. and it is not strange to hear that it 

 was badlv stuffed. 



R. L. D. 



^Ir. Charles R. !Mii,i.er, 



.Managing editor of the New York Times, and 

 life-long friend of animals, both wild and cap- 

 tive, and discriminating .judge of wild-animal 

 treatment, is in Kur(i])e. enjoying .-i much-needed 

 vacation. 



