*o - THE ANIMALS OF NORTHERN AFRICA 



considerably smaller than the tesem, but having a skull of similar type. Compared 

 with that of the pariah, the skull is shorter and broader, with a much more 

 elevated and prominent forehead. The fourth and last type is termed the Egyptian 

 spitz, or louloxi, and is said to resemble a breed still existing. It is considerably 

 superior in size to the typical large Pomeranian, or spitz, and approximates to the 

 mastiffs. The skull, which measures about 7£ inches in length, and has a highly 

 elevated forehead, indicates a very powerful dog, agreeing in this respect with its 

 modern counterpart, the spitz of the Bedouins. There does not, however, appear 

 to be any skull which can be referred to the prick-eared and long-muzzled Ibiza 

 greyhound, or the slughi, the former of which is so often represented in the 

 Pharaonic paintings, and still survives in Majorca, while the latter is the favourite 

 dog of the Bedouin. In addition to domesticated breeds of dog, the mummies 

 from Assiout include both jackal and fox. 



Although bears are unknown in the east of Africa, the Atlas 

 Mountains and certain other parts of northern Africa are reported 

 to be the home of a little-known local race of the brown bear (Ursus arctua 

 crowtheri) said to be nearly black in colour, but no specimens are now known. 



Passing on to the Mustelidce, or weasel tribe, it may be noted that 

 ' the zorille or striped polecat (Ictonyx frenata), the typical representa- 

 tive of a peculiar genus, inhabits Egypt and Sennar, and likewise those parts of 

 south-western Asia bordering on the African continent, as well as the districts 

 round Constantinople. Although the colouring is of the same general type as 

 that of the American skunks, with which the striped polecat also agrees in 

 its insufferable odour, there appears to be no near relationship between these 

 two groups. The striped polecat is a rough-haired animal, brownish black in 

 colour, with yellowish white longitudinal stripes; like a skunk, it carries its 

 bushy tail bent forwards over its back. In general habits it apjoears to be very 

 similar to ordinary polecats, which, like martens, are unknown in Africa. To the 

 natives of the Sudan the creature is known by the name of abu-seffu, signifying 

 " father of smells." 



Wild cattle, except in the shape of buffaloes, are entirely absent 

 from Africa, where wild sheep are represented only by the arui or 

 udad (Ammotragus lervia), which represents a genus by itself, and inhabits the 

 steeper slopes of the dry southern side of the Atlas range, and extends from the 

 Atlantic coast and the desert south of Biskra to the mountains of Egypt and the 

 northern part of the Sudan. This species is broadly distinguished from other wild 

 sheep by the mass of long hair developed on the throat, chest, and fore-legs, as 

 well as by the length of the tail, which is thickly haired and reaches below the 

 hocks. The long hair of the under-parts is developed only in the rams, the ewes 

 having much shorter hair on the fore-quarters. The horns, which are well- 

 developed in both sexes, seldom exceed about 25 inches in length in rams, and are 

 unlike those of other wild sheep, both in shape and in the structure of their 

 external surface, being directed to a great extent outwards, with but little 

 curvature, and the ordinary wrinkles replaced by finer criss-cross markings. In 

 height the arui stands over 3 feet at the shoulder. Its uniformly pale reddish 

 yellow colouring harmonises to perfection with that of the limestone rocks of 



