2 6 , THE ANIMALS OF NORTHERN AFRICA 



with their long tails extended backwards, with such long and rapid leaps across the 

 desert that they might well be taken for birds in flight. When walking quietly, 

 however, they put down one foot after the other in a deliberate manner. Being 

 true desert-animals, moisture, especially in the form of rain, does not suit them 

 at all ; and if wet weather continues for some time, they fall into a kind of stupor. 



Another common North African rodent is the Barbary striped 

 ' mouse (Acomys barbarus), which abounds in the Atlas, and is found 

 so far south as Kordofan. It belongs to the typical group of the mouse family, 

 but is distinguished from the members of the genus Mus by its coloration, which 

 consists of a number of blackish brown stripes running along the yellowish 

 brown back. 



The common porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is a Mediterranean 



Porcupine 



rodent, ranging over northern and western Africa and the south of 

 Europe. Apart from the hollow quills at the end of its tail, it possesses two kinds 

 of spines ; some being very long, thin, and flexible, and the rest, which are set 

 between the long ones, shorter and thicker ; and the head and neck are covered 

 with long bristles, curving backwards so as to form a kind of mane. In colour it 

 is chiefly brownish black, with a white band running across the front and up the 

 sides of the neck, where it becomes narrower. The bristles of this mane are mostly 

 brown at the base, but otherwise white ; the long spines are white at their bases 

 and tips, and elsewhere ringed with black and white, those on the hind-parts 

 are black throughout, and the hollow quills at the end of the tail white, as are most 

 of the other quills of the tail. 



Porcupines inhabit rocky mountains, where they spend the day in caves, 

 crevices in rocks, or burrows dug by themselves. They feed exclusively on 

 vegetable substances, especially roots, although they also devour wild fruits and 

 garden-vegetables. On account of such delicate diet, their flesh, which is said to 

 be partly like pork and partly like veal, is of excellent quality ; and they have 

 consequently a great number of enemies, among them the leopard, which kills 

 them by a single blow of its paw on their heads. 



Several species of hares are found in North Africa ; among them 

 being the Egyptian hare (Lepus cegyptius), characterised by its 

 relatively small size, very long ears, and pale colour. The Algerian L. habylicus is 

 nearly related to the small Sardinian hare (L. mediterraneus) but of larger size. 

 The Tangier hare is known as L. schlumbergeri, and the name L. timetce has been 

 applied to a hare from the island of Kerkenna, off Tunis. 



The absence of the European squirrel, or of any near relative of the same, is 

 a noteworthy feature in the zoology of northern Africa. 



Amons; the birds of northern Africa are a very large number of 

 Perching Birds. * tj.i-j.ij-j 



representatives or the perching group. In this group the diadem- 

 redstart (Ruticilla moussieri) is a native of north-western Africa, and is said to 

 occur also in Spain. About the size of the common redstart, it is distinguished by 

 a white stripe running from above the eye to the neck, a triangular white spot on 

 the folded wings, and a rich red throat and breast. This pretty little bird seems 

 indeed to combine the characteristics of the redstarts and the stonechats, constantly 

 bowing its head like other redstarts, but lacking the vibrating movements of the 



