AARD-VARK. 
27 
AARD-VARK. 
( Orycteropus capensis.) 
This curious animal, sometimes called the African Ant-eater or Earth-Hog, inhabits the 
countries of the Cape Colony, and extends northwards to the Senegal. It is the only species 
of the genus Orycteropus, established by G. St. Hilaire in 1791. It resembles the Ant-eater 
in general habits, but is more like the Armadillo in anatomical structure. When full grown, it 
is about five feet long, the tail being twenty inches. The skin is thick and tough, and scantily 
covered with coarse bristles. It has a long, conical head, ending with a snout ; the ears are 
long, large and pointed ; eyes and mouth small. The teeth, all molars, 14 above and 12 
below, resemble short pieces of cane cut off', with a multitude of little pores running length- 
wise. The limbs are short, and very muscular ; the fore-feet digitigrade and tetradactyle ; 
^he hind-feet, plantigrade and pentadactyle. The creature burrows with marvellous rapidity, 
and can bury itself in the ground faster with its hoof-like claws than a man can dig with a 
spade. In some districts the burrows are so numerous as to make it dangerous for cattle and 
horses travelling over the country. It lives upon ants, which it obtains by tearing down their 
hills, and then sweeping them into its mouth by its long, slender, glutinous tongue. It is slow 
of foot, and entirely nocturnal. The flesh of the hind -quarters, when made into hams, is 
accounted excellent. 
