THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



for the Dassies, and in many districts the forests 

 disappeared altogether ; therefore these animals were 

 obhged to change their mode of Hfe or perish, as 

 was the case with the squirrels which are so abundant 

 on the Karoo, and which live in burrows under- 

 ground, instead of in the trees, as did their remote 

 ancestors. 



Failing the shelter of hollow trees, the Dassies 

 sought sanctuary among the crannies and fissures of 

 the stony hills. 



However, all of them did not adopt these habits 

 of life. Some remained in the forests, which along 

 the coastal districts grow with undiminished vigour. 

 These are known as Bush Dassies, of which more 

 anon. 



The Klip Dassie lives in small parties of a few 

 individuals to a dozen or more. Wherever there is 

 rough, broken, stony country, the Klip Dassie is to 

 be found. They are by no means confined to the 

 drier inland portions of the country, for in Natal, 

 where the rainfall is abundant, and the vegetation 

 in many parts semi-tropical, the- Dassie abounds 

 along the edges of the various table mountains, and 

 ridges of rocks on the hills. 



This animal never attempts to burrow. It 

 lives in the natural crevices and holes among the 

 rocks, and may be seen at almost any time of the 

 day lying sunning itself on the smooth boulders. 

 One of the party is always on the watch, and the 

 instant it becomes alarmed it utters a shrill, hissing 



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