THE CAPE GROUND SQUIRREL 



tion of an entirely different mode of existence to 

 which it was accustomed. 



The Dassie abandoned its arboreal life, and 

 sought shelter in the cracks and crannies of the 

 rocky hills and kloofs ; and it is known, in con- 

 sequence, to-day as the Klip or Rock Dassie. 



The Squirrel, finding the rock crevices already 

 occupied, or being unable to successfully contend 

 against the Klip Dassie for the possession of these 

 desirable retreats, annexed the great stretches of 

 lands known as the Karoo. 



Therefore we find the Ground Squirrel inhabiting 

 all the drier central portions of the Cape Province, 

 the Kalahari, Bechuanaland, Rhodesia and Damara- 

 land. It seems to prefer the portions of the country 

 where the rainfall is scanty, for it does not occur 

 in the territories towards the east. This evidently 

 is owing to the fact that its burrows are on the 

 plains, and these would be rendered uninhabitable 

 if they were in the parts of the country where the 

 rainfall is heavy and frequent. The Ground 

 Squirrel lives entirely upon the ground, and even 

 if trees are in its vicinity it does not attempt to 

 climb them. This tree-climbing instinct, so strong 

 in its remote ancestors, seems to be entirely lost. 

 In captivity, however, if tree-trunks or branches 

 be placed in the cage, it does not hesitate to leap 

 upon them and run about on the branches, but it 

 does not attempt to climb any that are perpendicular. 



The Ground Squirrel lives in communities of 



6i 



