THE ROCK OR KLIP DASSIE 



the high mountain ranges, from which it makes 

 extensive flights in search of food, which consists 

 largely of Klip Dassies. 



The Southern Lammergeyer (Gypatus ossifragus), 

 known to the Dutch as the Lammervanger, which 

 means lamb-catcher, is another bird which haunts 

 the mountains and preys on the Dassie, 



In Natal, Zululand and some other parts of South 

 Africa, the Python (Python sehee) is a formidable 

 enemy of the Dassie. This great snake, which 

 attains a length of 20 feet, lies concealed in the rocky 

 haunts of the Dassie, and captures them when they 

 happen to come within reach. Lying coiled in a 

 clump of bush, the snake, with an incredibly swift 

 motion, darts out with gaping jaws, and should it 

 succeed in getting a grip with its sharp recurved 

 teeth, there is no hope of escape for the victim, for 

 in an instant the great coils are around it, which 

 within a couple of minutes crush the life out of it. 

 The Dassie is then swallowed whole. 



A belief is widespread in South Africa that there 

 is a snake of great size which lives among the rocks. 

 It is alleged to possess the body of a snake, and the 

 head and shoulders of a Dassie. It is known as the 

 Dassie-Adder. Needless to say, there is no such 

 snake. The belief probably had its origin in a 

 Hottentot or other native suddenly coming across 

 a Rock Leguan {Varanus albigulanis). The man 

 no doubt rushed away in an extremity of terror, 

 and his distorted imagination deceived him into 



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