An aard-vark's not to be bagged every day." "You spreichen true, Mynheer Hans,--Swartboy know all dat.

Him skin an' dress da goup." And, so saying, Swartboy out knife, and set to work upon the carcass.
Now this singular-looking animal which Hans called an "aard-vark," and Swartboy a "goup," was neither more nor less than the African ant-eater (_Orycteropus Capensis_).
Although the colonists term it "aard-vark," which is the Dutch for "ground-hog," the animal has but little in common with the hog kind.

It certainly bears some resemblance to a pig about the snout and cheeks; and that, with its bristly hair and burrowing habits, has no doubt given rise to the mistaken name.

The "ground" part of the title is from the fact that it is a burrowing animal,--indeed, one of the best "terriers" in the world.

It can make its way under ground faster than the spade can follow it, and faster than any badger.