THE FENNEC. 



273 



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egg is extremely thick and strong ; and as the Caama is but a small animal, its teeth are 

 unable to make any impression on so large, smooth, hard, and rounded an object. In order, 

 therefore, to obviate this difficulty, the cunning animal rolls the egg along by means of its 

 fore-paws, and pushes it so violently against any hard substance that may lie conveniently in 

 its path, or against another egg, that the shell is broken and the contents attainable. 



The fur of this animal is highly esteemed by the natives for the purpose of making 

 "karosses," or mantles. As the Asse is one of the smallest of the Foxes, a great number of 

 skins are needed to form a single mantle, and the manufactured article is therefore held in high 

 value by its possessor. Indeed, so valuable is its fur, that it tempts many of the Bechuana 

 tribes to make its chase the business of their lives, and to expend their whole energies in cap- 

 turing the animal from whose body 

 the much-prized fur is taken. 



The continual persecution to 

 which the Caama is subjected, has 

 almost exterminated it in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of Cape Town, where 

 it was formerly seen in tolerable 

 plenty. Gradually, however, it re- 

 treats more and more northward 

 before the tread of civilized man, 

 and at the present day is but very 

 rarely seen within the limits of the 

 colony. 



The two animals which now 

 claim our attention bear a consider- 

 able external resemblance to each 

 other, albeit that similarity extends 

 not to their formation. So different 

 are they from each other, that they 

 have been placed in a distinct genera 

 by the almost unanimous voice of 

 systematic naturalists. 



The former of these animals, the 

 Otocton, or Eared -dog, derives its 

 name from the very great propor- 

 tionate length of its ears. . It is 



smaller than the Fox, and is of a eennec-wj** zaarmsa. 



tolerably uniform gray color, except 



on the tail, which is covered with long black hair, and on the limbs, which are of a darker 

 hue than the body. The ears are erect, well covered with fur, and nearly equal to the head 

 in length. It is an inhabitant of Southern Africa. In several anatomical points, especially 

 in the arrangement and shape of its teeth, it may be distinguished from the following animal. 



The Fennec, or Zerda, is an inhabitant of Africa, being found in Nubia and Egypt. It 

 is a very pretty and lively little creature, running about with much activity, and anon sitting 

 upright and regarding the prospect with marvellous gravity. The color of the Fennec is a 

 very pale fawn, or "isabel" color, sometimes being almost of a creamy whiteness. The tail 

 is bushy, and partakes of the general color of the fur, except at the upper part of the base and 

 the extreme tip, which are boldly marked with black. The size of the adult animal is very 

 inconsiderable, as it measures scarcely more than a foot in length, exclusive of the bushy tail, 

 which is about eight inches long. 



It is said that the Fennec, although it is evidently a carnivorous animal, delights to feed 

 upon various fruits, especially preferring the date. Such a predilection is according to vulpine 



