HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
69 
self, apparently with very little effort. The dan- 
ger of his escaping by this means is obviated, 
however, by having- the run paved. 
The bottom of the enclosure is covered over 
with soil, and on one side there is a bank, in 
which the animal has a burrow where he spends 
a good deal of his time. Such an arrangement 
has a great advantage over the hutch or box 
which is usually provided for these creatures to 
sleep in. It is not only far more natural, but the 
constant burrowing gives the Armadillo plenty 
of healthy exercise, and helps to keep him in good 
condition. The earthen walls of the burrow are 
strengthened by an inner support: of wood and 
bricks. This prevents the animal from under- 
mining them and causing them to collapse, which 
would soon happen if this precaution were not 
taken. The roof is similarly constructed of strong 
Avooden boards, which are covered by a layer of 
soil and planted over with turf. In the middle is 
a shallow box, filled with earth and planted with 
grass. This serves the purpose of a lid, and at the 
same time at a short distance it can hardly be 
distinguished from the rest of the turf. On either 
side of this lid is a handle, by means of which 
it ma be removed in order to see the interior of 
the burrow. Unfortunately the writer has never 
been able to observe the Armadillo burrowing in- 
side, as he will never do SO' when the lid is off, 
and immediately stops work if it is removed after 
h ehas started. There are constant opportunities, 
however, of watching him digging outside, in 
the bank at the side of the burrow or in corners 
of the run. The fore feet are armed with five 
very long and powerful claws specially formed for 
the purpose, and the rapidity with which a large 
hole will be made, even in hard ground, is quite 
astonishing. 
The "Arma," as he is familiarly called, is 
to some extent nocturnal in his habits, and spends 
a good part of the day asleep in the burrow. He 
usually comes out for a short time about 10 or 11 
o'clock to be fed, and then retires again. Some- 
times he shows himself for a few minutes during 
the afternoon, but, as a rule, he is not seen 
again, in the summer, until about 6 o'clock in the 
evening, and rather earlier in the winter. At 
these times he generally remains out until after 
nightfall. It is during this part of the day and 
also during the early hours of the morning that 
he is most active, though he is always very lively 
when he is out. At such times he frequently oc- 
cupies himself by digging numerous holes in the 
bank and spares no effort to make the run thor- 
oughly untidy. These holes have to be stopped 
up every day, although on each following morn- 
ing they will be there again in exactly the same 
position. It would be difficult to say what their 
purpose is, for the never go in for more than a 
few inches, and no attempt is ever made at exca- 
vating a new burrow. Apparently he makes them 
in mere exuberance of spirits — a kind of "joy of 
his heart." The "Arma" seems to be seized with 
periodical fits of this burrowing craze, which may 
last for almost any length of time, from a week 
or two to several months. After such bouts he 
often turns his attention to alterations in the 
interior, and leaves the outside undisturbed for a 
time. 
(To be continued.) 
F. C. SELOUS. 
It is reported unofficially that Captain F. C. 
Selous, D.S.O., the famous South African ex- 
plorer and big-game hunter, has been killed in • 
action in South-east Africa. Captain Selous joined 
the Legion of Frontiersmen a year ago, and was 
mentioned in despatches by General Smuts and 
awarded the Distinguished Service Order for 
services in the East African campaign. Captain 
Selous was generally understood to be the origi- 
nal of Allan Quatermain, the hero of the Rider 
Haggard African romance. 
Francis Courtenay Selous was born in 1852., 
educated at Rugby, and afterwards passed a year 
in Germany with the object of learning the lan- 
guage and German business methods. As his I 
father was president of the London Stock Ex- 
change favourable openings in the business world 
of London were available for young Selous, but 
the bent of his inclinations was early apparent, 
and perhaps nothing would have availed to alter 
it.. He was one of those typical Englishmen who 
gravitate towards a life of sport and adventure 
as surely as the dislodged stone rolls down hill. 
Selous was one of the most courageous and suc- 
cessful hunters of big game that ever lived, but 
his energies were far from being restricted solely 
to sport. A born naturalist, he derived nearly as 
much pleasure from the acquisition of rare birds 
or butterflies as from securing handsome tro- 
phies of the chase. The British Museum contains 
numerous specimens of African mammals obtained 
by Selous at the cost of who' shall say how much 
toil and hardship. The Museum at Capetown also 
is enriched by his interesting collections. 
In September, 1871, Selous commenced his 
famous career as hunter, explorer, and naturalist, 
landing at Algoa Bay, aged 19, with a capital of 
£400. He lost no time in penetrating into the 
interior, and during one of his early expeditions 
in Griqualand came very nearly to losing his life. 
While hunting giraffes — which he then saw for 
the first time — he became lost, and for nearly 
four days and as many nights was entirely without 
food and water. A strong constitution enabled 
him to throw off the effects of this trying ex- 
perience, and soon afterwards he entered Mata- 
beleland and sought King Lobengula's permission 
to shoot elephants. Lobengula laughed at him, 
saying he was "only a boy," but the desired 
