THE ANT-EATER 235 



which we accordingly did, after having once 

 more assured each other with great fervour that 

 we had all seen it. 



I have never received a satisfactory ex- 

 planation of how or why this rat should have gone 

 into a building at all, or what it was doing at 

 that height from the ground. Two of the party, 

 in addition to myself, recognised it instantly, so 

 that the creature's identity does not admit of a 

 doubt. 



Occasionally, if you should be residing or 

 stopping for any length of time in Zambezia, the 

 natives will bring you for sale, aU curled up in 

 some disused hencoop, a very scared, recently 

 captured Ant-eater. These curious creatures, 

 about three or four feet long, are rather like a 

 crocodile-shaped armadillo. They are covered 

 all over, except on the under side, of course, with 

 an armour of proof consisting of large, thick, 

 horny scales, which must be a complete protection 

 to them when once curled up into the hedgehog 

 shape they assume upon the approach of danger. 

 These scales are very thick, and of a tough, hard 

 substance, and impervious, I should imagine, to 

 anything short of a rifle bullet. In handling these 

 creatures the greatest care must be taken to 

 avoid getting the fingers caught under the closing 

 armour as he rolls himself up, otherwise they may 

 be very badly crushed indeed. 



The scaly ant-eater, as the name indicates, 

 maintains itself, 1 believe, entirely upon the blind 

 white .termite and such other kinds of ants as it 

 can find, but preferably upon the former. It 



