AND DESERTS 127 



absent from savanas, and the weasel group is not well 

 represented there. Among the few weasel-like forms 

 we may note the South African weasel (Poecilogale) and 

 the Cape polecat (Ictonyx). The latter has a somewhat 

 wide distribution in Africa, and differs from martens 

 and polecats in that it is unable to cHmb. It has 

 a peculiar resemblance to the American skmiks, and 

 like them is protected from possible enemies by its very 

 offensive odour. The animals feed upon small mammals 

 and birds, lizards, and frogs, and are found in rocky 

 districts. 



It is when we come to the ungulates, however, that 

 we find the most speciaMzed and abundant of the 

 animals of the African savana. In the reedy swamps 

 throughout the greater part of the continent occurs the 

 so-caUed Cape buffalo (Bos caffer), which is replaced in 

 the regions richer in trees by the short-homed buffalo 

 (Bos pumilus). Both live in herds, and do not volun- 

 tarily quit the vicinity of water, in which they love to 

 bathe. The young are bom in the warmer season, and 

 there is never more than one caK at a birth. It is 

 hidden by the mother among long grass, and for about 

 ten days after its birth the mother separates from the 

 herd, and remains within easy reach of her yoimg, 

 which she visits at short intervals. This habit speaks to 

 hfe in regions where cover is always obtainable, and is in 

 striking distinction to the habits of the moimtain ungu- 

 lates (cf. p. 75), where the young must be able to 

 travel with the herd very shortly after birth. 



As we have repeatedly stated, it is the antelopes 

 which characterize specially the savanas of Africa, 

 the diversity of species being as remarkable as the 

 number of individuals, till man interfered. In several 

 points of structure antelopes are more primitive than 



