88 SOUTH AFEICAN MAMMALS 



There are two other species found within our borders ; 

 of these the Eed-headed Squirrel {Paraxerus palliatus) 

 differs mainly from the previous animal by being of 

 a rufous colour below, and ranging from Zululand in 

 the east up through Mozambique and Nyasaland to 

 Central East Africa. The Striped Squirrel (Paraxerus 

 congicus) is browner above than either of the preceding 

 species and can be immediately recognized by the two 

 parallel stripes which run from the shoulder to the hind 

 limbs : a pale yellow one above, below which there is a 

 dark one. This is a West African form, coming as far 

 south as Ovamboland in South West territory. 



The American Grey Squirrel (Sciurus caroUnensis) was 

 introduced into Cape Town some years ago by the late 

 Cecil Rhodes and has multiplied to such an extent that it 

 has now overrun the Cape Peninsula and has become a 

 pest in gardens and orchards 



Geosciurus capensis. Ground Squirrel. Waaierstaart. 



Although often called a Mierkat by the South Africans 

 and especially by the Boers, this animal is, needless to 

 say, not a Mierkat at all but a true rodent — a squirrel 

 adapted by nature for a life on the ground instead of 

 amongst the branches of trees, like its relations all over 

 the world. 



Above and on the sides it is of a pale red-brown, or 

 greyish-brown colour slightly speckled with black, the 

 hairs being short and bristly ; a narrow white stripe runs 

 from the shoulders to the haunches, and the underparts 

 of the body are also white ; eyes fairly large, but an ear 

 conch is absent. The legs have four claws on the fore 

 and five on the hind feet. Tail bushy, laterally flattened, 

 greyish — with a pale line down the centre, darkening 



