NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 
lambs out upon the hillside or veld during the day- 
time. If kids or lambs are killed during the day, 
‘and afterwards found with their stomachs torn out, 
then in all probability baboons are the offenders. 
Even if the assertion were true that the Manhaar 
Jakhals occasionally eat the eggs of ostriches, the 
number so devoured must be insignificant. The 
reasons are several. Many farmers artificially in- 
cubate their ostrich eggs. The majority of those 
who allow them to hatch normally take care that 
the nest is in a camp near to the farmhouse, especi- 
ally in the parts of the country which are infested 
with Kafir dogs, and the larger carnivorous animals 
such as the leopard, lynx, wild dog, and Cape 
Jackal. Even supposing a nest was remote from the 
homestead, it is even then highly improbable that 
such a timid nervous creature as the Aard Wolf 
would be so bold as to actually drag the eggs from 
under the cock ostrich, for it must be borne in mind 
that the male bird sits upon the eggs during the 
hours of darkness when the Aard Wolf is on the 
prowl, and that at the breeding season he is fierce 
and aggressive. A Cape Jackal is capable of steal- 
ing an egg or two from under a sitting bird if the 
night be dark, but, judging from the disposition 
of the Aard Wolf, such a proceeding is extremely 
unlikely. 
Again, these animals being nocturnal, is it likely 
that a farmer will sit up throughout the night on 
the off-chance of- seeing a Manhaar Jakhal kill or 
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