NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



during the hours of darkness and establish them- 

 selves in some other locality which will furnish 

 them with the wherewithal to satisfy their appe- 

 tites. Here they dig fresh burrows and once again 

 begin the work of raising families. 



THE SOUTH AFRICAN GERBILLES 



There are a large number of species and local races 

 or sub-species of Gerbilles known in South Africa. 

 They have been separated into three genera. The 

 typical ones most commonly met with are the 

 following : 



THE RED GERBILLE 



(Gerbillus peeba) 



The Red Gerbille is an inhabitant of the dry sandy 

 wastes of Namaqualand, Bechuanaland, the Kala- 

 hari and South-West Africa. It lives in small 

 parties, and forms burrows in the sandy soil. 

 The Red Gerbille is about 4 inches in length, 

 not including the tail, which is somewhat longer 

 than the body. The prevailing colour of the back, 

 is reddish-orange. The fur is sHghtly dark along 

 the centre of the back owing to the presence of 

 some long black hairs. The under parts are pure 

 white. Tail round, and covered with short stiff 

 hairs, which tend to become longer on approaching 

 the tip. The tail is light brown above and white 

 below. 



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