NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



half-a-dozen to a dozen and more individuals. It 

 excavates burrows out on the open Karoo, and in 

 passing through the country by train, hundreds of 

 groups of these curious little creatures may be seen 

 sitting up on their haunches staring curiously at 

 the train as it rushes past. On the slightest sem- 

 blance of danger, the whole community of Squirrels 

 race off chattering to their burrows, into which 

 they hastily disappear. However, they soon become 

 confident when not interfered with, and are so used 

 to the train rattling past their burrows, that they 

 usually make no move to seek shelter, but merely 

 stare at it as it rushes past within a dozen yards 

 of them. In riding or driving over the much- 

 frequented routes across the Karoo-veld, the Ground 

 Squirrels show little fear of man, and allow him 

 to approach within a score of paces. They, however, 

 are careful to be within a yard or so of their 

 burrows, for, if cut off from their underground 

 retreats, these Squirrels can easily be captured even 

 by a man on foot after a short run, as they are very 

 poor runners. For this reason they never venture 

 far from their holes. The young are born and 

 reared in a cosy nest at the bottom of the 

 burrow. 



It is a comparatively easy matter to dig Ground 

 Squirrels from their underground retreats and 

 capture them alive. They are frequently kept in 

 captivity by colonists, and make gentle and interest- 

 ing pets. If placed in warm, roomy cages and well 



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