klipspringer or "chamois of South
Africa," common in the mountains, the wart-hog and the dassie or rock
rabbit. There are two or three varieties of hares, and a species of
jerboa and several genera of mongooses. The English rabbit has been
introduced into Robben Island, but is excluded from the mainland. The
ant-bear, with very long snout, tongue and ears, is found on the Karroo,
where it makes inroads on the ant-heaps which dot the plain. There is
also a scaly ant-eater and various species of pangolins, of arboreal
habit, which live on ants. Baboons are found in the mountains and
forests, otters in the rivers. Of reptiles there are the crocodile,
confined to the Transkei rivers, several kinds of snakes, including the
cobra di capello and puff adder, numerous lizards and various tortoises,
including the leopard tortoise, the largest of the continental land
forms. Of birds the ostrich may still be found wild in some regions. The
great kori bustard is sometimes as much as 5 ft. high. Other game birds
include the francolin, quail, guinea-fowl, sand-grouse, snipe, wild
duck, wild goose, widgeon, teal, plover and rail. Birds of prey include
the bearded vulture, aasvogel and several varieties of eagles, hawks,
falcons and owls. Cranes, storks, flamingoes and pelicans are found in
large variety.

Parrots are rarely seen. The greater number of birds belong to the order
Passeres; starlings, weavers and larks are very common, the Cape canary,
long-tailed sugar bird, pipits and wagtails are fairly numerous. The
English starling is stated to be the only European bird to have
thoroughly established itself in the colony. The Cape sparrow has
completely acclimatized itself to town life and prevented the English
sparrow obtaining a footing.

Large toads and frogs are common, as are scorpions, tarantula spiders,
butterflies, hornets and stinging ants. In some districts the tsetse fly
causes great havoc. The most interesting of the endemic insectivora is
the _Chrysochloris_ or "golden mole," so called from the brilliant
yellow lustre of its fur. There are not many varieties of freshwater
fish, the commonest being the baba or cat-fish and the yellow fish. Both
are of large size, the baba weighing as much as 70 lb. The smallest
variety is the culper or burrowing perch. In some of the _vleis_ and
streams in which the water is intermittent the fish preserve life by
burrowing into the ooze. Trout have been introduced into several rivers
an