Of the rodents there are about 250 species, including squirrels, hares and porcupines. Two species of Insectivora—the golden mole and the elephant shrew—are peculiar to South Africa. The Edentata include the scaly ant-eater, and the aardvark, or ant bear, the structure of whose teeth (molars) has no analogy among the mammals. Several species of whales are caught in South African waters. The primates are not well represented, but monkeys are found in the forests, and baboons are common in nearly all the mountainous areas. Of the Carnivora the leopard is still fairly secure in some of the mountain kloofs : lions are con fined to the northern Transvaal, and the Sabie game reserve. Sev eral of the smaller Felidae—wild cat, lynx, spotted serval, etc.— are moderately numerous. Hyaenas are becoming scarce, but the Canidae are still well represented by the black-backed and striped jackal and the wild, or Cape, hunting dog.
Over a thousand species of birds are known including migrants such as the European swallow, red-backed shrike, white stork, curlew, etc. Parrots and hornbills reach from the tropics to Damaraland on the west, and on the east through Natal to the Knysna forests. The jackass penguin, which breeds in large num bers on the islands of the south and west coasts, represents an antarctic element. Eagles, kites, falcons, harriers, hawks and owls occur. The secretary bird, with its long legs and terrestrial habit, is related to the eagles and hawks, and is protected on account of its reputation as a snake-killer. It is peculiar to South Africa. Among the birds which are shot for sport or food are the francolins (locally known as pheasants and partridges), guinea fowls, sand grouse, ducks and geese. The ostrich still ex ists in the wild condition in unenclosed parts of the country. The common European starling is rapidly spreading about Cape Town and in the coastal parts of Natal; the Indian mynah is well established, and is pushing away some of the native species.
The reptiles include over 35o species. The crocodile does not occur south of the Kunene and Tugela rivers. Tortoises and especially lizards are numerous. Snakes are represented by 125 species. Among these are the puff and night adders, cobra, python, and the swift and deadly imamba (Dendraspis angusticePs).
There are 200 species of fresh-water fish. By far the common est are representatives of the carp family, known in South Africa as barbel. The tiger fish (Hydrocyon lineaties) is the finest indi genous sporting fish, and occurs in the Komati and Crocodile rivers. There is only one native species of eel ; it is confined to the rivers flowing into the Indian ocean. Brown, rainbow and Loch Leven trout have been acclimatised, and many rivers in the cooler parts of the country are well stocked. In Natal they do well above 4,000 ft. South Africa has many varieties of scorpions and spiders. Of insects, it is estimated that there are at least 40,00o species. Those of the north-eastern and eastern districts have affinities with central Africa. Mention can only be made of
the mantis, or Hottentot god, the white ants or termites, which are often destructive of timber and trees ; of the bees including honey bees, which are common ; of several types of mosquitoes, including the anophelene mosquito, and the tsetse fly (Glossina).
By Europeans is implied persons of European origin, without any infusion of Bantu, Hottentot, Indian or other blood. The term Native is applied to the Bantu tribes. "Mixed" implies persons who are the result of crosses between Europeans and Bantu, Hot tentots, Malays, etc., as well as Hottentots and Bushmen, who would, however, probably not number more than a few thousands. The Asiatics consist chiefly of people brought over as coolies from south India, and of Mohammedan traders. Between 1911 and 1921 the Europeans increased by 29.06%, Natives by 16.89%, Asiatics by 8.89% and the Mixed by 3.73% (see other articles on Basuto, Hottentots, etc.). Between 1921 and 1931 the Europeans increased by 20.31%.
The distribution of the native population is very uneven, espe cially in the Cape, where the range is from about one person per sq.m. or less, in the western and northern districts, to over 7o in the King William's Town district. (See CAPE COLONY.) The white population increases very slowly as the result of im migration. During the years 1922-26 the average yearly num ber of white immigrants, intending permanent residence, was 27,586, and the corresponding number of white emigrants, re linquishing domicile, 25,635. The country had therefore a net yearly gain of 1,951 settlers, or one person per 242.4 sq. miles. In 1926 the number of Asiatics relinquishing domicile exceeded that of permanent immigrants by 2,611.
An important element of the white South African population is formed by the "poor whites," whose numbers in the rural dis tricts are estimated at ioo,000 to 150,000. Several causes operate to produce this depressed class. In the rural areas men may lose their hold on the land as the result of drought or disease, or of the fractioning of the farms among descendants, according to the Roman-Dutch system of inheritance. Most of them are imbued with the idea that all manual labour is "Kafirs' work." Some of these people drift into the towns, but having no skill they must compete in the unskilled labour market with the low-paid native, with whom their relations are often far from satisfactory, and form a grave social problem. The Government has established several afforestation schemes where the labour is done by "poor whites" on a piece-work basis. From the afforestation settlements suitable men are drafted on to irrigated areas, where they are trained to work land under discipline. Labour colonies have been established, to which a man who is habitually idle can be com mitted from one to five years. Nearly all the unskilled and most of the semi-skilled work is done by natives, Indians and coloured people.