The Addax
The heavy-bodied, short-legged addax is one of the desert-dwelling antelopes. It is a grass-eating animal with extra large hooves that provide easy travel over the loose sands of Africa. Like so many animals of the desert, it can go many days without drinking.
Only the males of some antelopes have horns, but both the male and female addax have long, twisted, handsome horns - the most distinguishing feature about them -sweeping back high above the ears of their pretty heads. They stand about forty inches high, with gray coloring in summer and darker coloring in winter. A white band of fur covers their faces like a towel, and a dark tuft of hair on the forehead looks like a wig. But these do not in any way detract from their striking beauty.
The Numbat
Another name for the numbat is the banded anteater. This rare animal is one of the prettiest animals in Australia. It is about twelve inches long, plus a seven-inch tail. Alternate black and white stripes surround the top and sides of the body and its pointed, gentle-looking face has big eyes and large ears. Legs and feet are golden brown, with the lower part of the body entirely white. It is a very beautiful little animal.
It is a true termite-eater. The Creator gave it features to extract these insects from the tunnels they make in rotten wood. The numbat will pass up ants and other insects as long as termites are available.
The Coypu
The coypu is a large rodent with webbed hind feet. It looks and acts like a beaver and lives on the edges of lakes and rivers of South America. It has sharp teeth, which it uses to cut down plants for nest building. It feeds on water plants, mussels, snails and small fish. The coypu’s soft underfur is called “nutria” and sells for high prices to be made into winter jackets and coats. This fur is in such demand that many of the animals are now raised on game farms.
Eight or nine little ones are raised each year. The little ones are good swimmers and are able to be on their own in about a week’s time, but they usually stay longer than that with their mother.
The opening Bible verse tells of the Creator’s care for all living things, including boys and girls. Another verse exclaims, “O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things” (Isaiah 25:11O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. (Isaiah 25:1)).
Can you say the same?
ML-09/18/2005