THE AARDVARK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 1

THE AARDVARK.

It. Trimen, in Longman's Magazine) Among her many strange beasts Africa boasts none queerer than the Aardvark. That the animal should be popularly knowti by names of such widely differing import as "Earth Pig" and "Ant Bear "is a significant indication of the puzzle it is to make him out. As far as human enemies are concerned — and while blacks like the meat, whites approve of the leather — the nocturnal activity of the Aardvark and his underground seclusion during the day have doubtless afforded him great protection. All who have essayed the task agree that it is no joke to dig out one of these^nimals, as he can burrow much faster than anyone can dig; and even when, by the combined efforts of a party of diggers; he is exposed ,to view, the extea6rdinary ! tenacity of his ; hold v *oxr-*- fkh : hard^^^^^bnaa-ii&iiß&* ; -h*Js-' 're*- < moval uninjured no easy job. Greatly did I desire to possess a living Aardvark, and proportionate was my rejoicing when a friend in the distant uplands of the Calvinia district wrote that he had despatched by waggon to my address v a young male in good health and CONDITION. A fortnight later the distinguished stranger arrived, and was received with every attention. He was only about halfgrown, and had been securely packed in a cage none too large for him! On the spot I recognised that this to all appearance living fossil was full of fun, and forthwith dubbed him " Fusbos," after the wellknown philosopher. Taken to the adjacent field, Fusbos essayed divers ungainly ambles, but was much hampered by his stiffness, and so took to tho congenial exercise of burrowing. The soil was soft, after recent rains, and before' you could turn round he was half buried.. Nothing short of the whole strength of the company prevented the total disappearance of our new treasure, and his possibly astounding the dean and chapter of the adjacent cathedral by coming up through the floor. And so we reluctantly decided tliat he could not be left at liberty. GBEAT WERE HIS GBUNTINGS, Mckings, and scatterings of earth before he could be safely bestowed in the fine large cage provided for him ; but, once there, he • seemed to accept the situation, and proceeded to potter all round it, gravely examining every part. In his new quai^ters sundry eatables were offered him, but, after deliberate applications of his colossal jaose nothing was accepted except some finely chopped raw meat. Failing white ants, nunjerous other insects were provided, but, a_j Fusbos would have none of them, we had to fall back upon chopped meat and hard-boiled eggs, which, mixed with milk, became his regular food. In a very short time ho became quite friendly, not only with myself, but with .others whom he saw daily — particularly, of course, with the cook, a most kind■ho«arted Irishwoman. When introduced to other animals Fusbos always exhibited A WHIMSICAL FRIENDLINESS, but this was (with only one exception) far from bein^ reciprocated on their part. Only fearless little Mietje, the "mierkat" —a species of mongoose endowed with the brightest intelligence and an insatiable curiosity — stood np at once to the quaint new-comer, and began to explore his spacious person Vfjth the utmost sangfroid. Fusbos evidently appreciated these attentions, enjoying *£tye nosings and scrapings so actively administered by his alert new acquaintance. The most amicable relations were speedily established between these profoundly differing cf-patures, and a visit to Fusbos often ended in the niierkat's going to sleep snugly curled up on his friend's broad body. THE GREAT TORTOISE by degrees grew quite indifferent to the presence of Fusbos, and completely ignored him, but the dogs continued to be disquieted, and snuffed most suspiciously about him; while the cat, though in a measure learning to tolerate him, could never be brought to make friends or voluntarily to touch himi No snubbing or discouragement, however, could daunt or sour the sociable Fusbos, who really seemed to have an inexhaustible store of good feeling towards all his fellow creattires. But poor Fusbos was not destined to amuse us for long, or to teach us whether in maturity he would have retained TKE ENGAGING PLEASANTRIES OF HIS YOUTH. No doubt the want of his natural food, as well as of the exercise of digging for it, told unfavourably on his health, but the main cause of his decline wfis the unusually wet winter at the beginning of which he had reached the coast. He became gradually more and more inactive, passing most of the time in sleep or torpor ; his condition fell away, his eye lost its brilliancy, and he no longer indulged in the uncouth gambols which had so highly delighted. us., Though moved into the kitchen,.as the driest and wannest place available, he did not rally, aud one morning was* found desu.-! by his devoted Biddy.