May 1897. East African Collection of Mammals — Elliot. 145 



number, I have never seen a really fine Somali lion skin, and 

 doubt if the country produces one. Of course, anywhere near 

 the coast it is difficult now to meet with an old lion, they having 

 been mostly all killed, and those obtained are usually young or 

 three-quarters grown, with the cub look still on their faces. 

 Doubtless, to find them at all, one will soon be obliged to pene- 

 trate far into the interior, for, like most wild creatures, the lion 

 is rapidly passing away. 



FELIS PAROUS. 

 Felis Pardus (Linn). 



Felis Pardus. The Leopard. Native name Shabei. 



a. $ juv. Hullier. 



b. 9 ad. Hersi Barri, Ogaden. 



c. 9 juv. Adadleh. 



Leopards are pretty well distributed all over Somali-land, and 

 are the most dangerous of all its wild animals. A leopard is very 

 bold and fearless, and does not hesitate to enter a zareba or vil- 

 lage, and seize upon any man or beast he can conveniently reach. 

 They do not appear to attack camels and these animals pay no 

 attention to a leopard even if crawling in their midst, while 

 a lion's roar will cause them to stampede. Leopards are won- 

 derfully agile and very powerful considering their size, for, like 

 the lion, the Somali leopard is smaller than his brethern from 

 other places. I have known one of these beasts to take a 

 carcase (entire) of a spotted hyena, full grown, and carry it up a 

 tree and deposit it in a fork fifteen feet from the ground. The 

 wonder was not only how it was possible for him to carry such a 

 heavy mass up the tree, but how he could even lift it from the 

 ground. But the fact that he did it was evident, for the carcase 

 was up the tree, and the sand beneath was tracked all over by 

 the leopard's feet. Although smaller than the usual size of 

 leopards from other localities, there is no other difference, and it 

 is absurd to make even separate races either of the lion or 

 leopard found in Somali-land. I went all over this question 

 years ago with ample material at my command, and there is no 

 character existing upon which more than one species can be 

 established. Thickness of coat and length of hair vary with the 

 climate, size is no criterion for it is not the same even in mem- 

 bers of one family, while color is equally unreliable, it often 

 depending on individual condition. Nor is there any osteological 

 character to be found upon which more than one species can be 



