38 THE MAMMALS OF SOMALILAND 



Dentition.—?. |, c. \,pm. %,m.\ = 32. 



Distribution. — The aardwolf is found sparsely scattered 

 throughout Somaliland. 



Habits. — Being nocturnal in its habits it is rarely seen before 

 sunset. They are almost invariably seen alone — I have never seen 

 a pair together. They sleep during the day in burrows, some of 

 which are several yards in length, and which in all probability 

 have been made by an anteater. The aardwolf can do but 

 little harm owing to the rudimentary condition of its molar teeth. 

 It is possibly owing to their purely insectivorous diet that their 

 molar teeth, owing to lack of use, have not developed. 



An aardwolf which I saw on several occasions used to occupy 

 a burrow within a short distance of one in which an anteater lived, 

 and very possibly used to follow the latter animal about in the 

 hope of sharing the fruits of his neighbour's labours, in the shape of 

 termites. Ants, termites, other insects and possibly birds' eggs 

 form their chief food. The aardwolf is a cowardly animal, and 

 easily killed by a plucky fox-terrier. I have known a bull-terrier 

 enter a burrow and kill the animal inside. When it fights it emits 

 a powerful-smelling secretion from the two glands situated beneath 

 the root of the tail. The largest specimen I have seen was on 

 the Toyo plain — it appeared to be considerably larger than the 

 common jackal. 



