144 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. i. 



is getting to be rather scarce north of the Golis Range, and we 

 first came upon its track and heard its roar at night at Mandera, 

 near the base of the mountains. The Somali lion is a degenerate 

 descendant of the South African species, much smaller in size as 

 a rule, of a grayish hue, and with little or no mane. Rarely are 

 specimens obtained with even a fairly long mane. Judging from 

 our experience with them, they are most cowardly in disposition, 

 and avoid man's presence whenever possible. Of course, if 

 wounded and surrounded so that escape seems impossible, the 

 Somali lion will show fight, as any other animal will, even a rat, 

 but his principal idea seems to be when followed to put as much 

 ground between himself and his pursuers as possible. 



We did not make it a business to hunt lions, as it wastes too 

 much time, and after seeing a number of skins I decided it would 

 not properly represent the real lion in collections, and so after 

 procuring a specimen or so, we paid no attention to them except 

 when they were accidently met with. At one time we followed 

 one for several hours until sunset compelled us to give the chase 

 up, and although the beast continually took refuge in dense grass 

 and thickets of thorn bushes, he never would remain in them or 

 show fight, but the moment any of us came up to his hiding place 

 he would bolt out the opposite side, so we never got a chance to 

 shoot, and he was only seen once by one of the beaters. We 

 met with lions in the middle of the Haud, many miles from 

 water, and these animals must depend upon the blood of the 

 creatures they kill to quench their thirst. Lions commit great 

 depredations upon the flocks of the natives, and will no doubt 

 make a meal of one of them also if they happen to find him asleep 

 or off his guard in the bush. The Midgans kill many of them 

 with their poisoned arrows, which, although they inflict but slight 

 wounds, bring death in a brief period. Lions are sometimes 

 hunted on horseback by large parties of natives, who bother him 

 to such an extent that he does not know which way to turn, and 

 is killed by their spears and arrows. An unsportmanlike way 

 frequently practiced is to tie a donkey securely, close to an ambus- 

 cade built of logs and thorn bushes and wait for the lion to come 

 and kill the donkey, and then shoot him at close quarters. The 

 lion is attracted by the braying of the captive animal and, as he is 

 very fond of donkey flesh, soon finds the place where he hopes to 

 secure a much desired repast. In the highlands and colder parts 

 of the country, as might be expected, the coat of the lion is 

 thicker and heavier, but although I have handled a considerable 



