74 THE ASSE, 
Like the veritable Foxes, the Fennec is accustomed to dwell in subter- 
ranean abodes, which it scoops in the light sandy soil of its native land. 
As is the case with the greater number of predacious animals, the Fennec 
is but seldom seen during the daytime, preferring to issue forth upon its 
marauding expeditions under the friendly cover of night. Even when it has 
spent some time in captivity, it retains its restless nocturnal demeanour, and 
during the hours of daylight passes the greater portion of its time in seii- 
somnolence or in actual sleep. 
THE little animal which is known by the name of the ASSE, or the 
CAAMA, is an inhabitant of Southern Africa, and is in great request for the 
sake of its skin, which furnishes a very valuable fur. 
It is a terrible enemy to ostriches and other birds which lay their eggs in 
the ground, and is in consequence detested by the birds whose nests are 
devastated. The ingenuity of the Caama in procuring the contents of an 
ASSE, OR CAAMA.—( Vulfes caama.) 
ostrich’s egg is rather remarkable. The shell of the egg is extremely thick 
and strong ; and as the Caama is but a small animal, its teeth are unable to 
make any impression on so large, smooth, hard, and rounded an object. In 
order, therefore, to obviate this difficulty, the cunning animal rolls the egg 
along by means of its fore-paws, and pushes it so violently against any hard 
substance that may lie conveniently in its path, or against another egg, that 
the sh-ll is broken and the contents attainable. 
The fur of this animal is highly esteemed by the natives for the purpose 
of making “ karosses,” or mantles. As the Asse is one of the smallest of the 
Foxes, a great number of skins are needed to form a single mantle, and the 
manufactured article is therefore held in high value by its possessor. Indeed, 
so valuable is its fur, thut it tempts many of the Bechuana tribes to make 
