THE GENET 

 Genetta dongolensis, Hempr. and Ehr. 



Somali name, Dinaa 



Description. — General colour is grey, with well-marked brown 

 spots, arranged more or less longitudinally. In the two upper- 

 most rows on each side, the spots are so close together as to give 

 the appearance of two brown lines. Along the middle line of the 

 back is a crest of long black erectile hairs. The forelegs are 

 grey, while the hindlegs are grey on their anterior surfaces and 

 black posteriorly from a point just above the knees. The tail 

 from base to tip consists of bands more or less equal in breadth, of 

 black and white. Under the large round eyes is a small patch of 

 white. Near the anus are two glands, from which a straw-coloured 

 strong-smelling secretion is emitted. The Somalis have no special 

 name for the genet 



Measurements of a male specimen shot in Berbera were : 



Head and body 

 Tail . 

 Hindfoot . 

 Ear . 

 Round body 

 Height at shoulder 

 Round neck 

 Length of neck . 



Distribution. — This genet is found throughout Northern 



Somaliland. 

 elsewhere. 



It is perhaps commoner on the Golis Range than 



Habits. — It lives chiefly on small birds and animals, especially 

 the former, but will steal meat when it gets the opportunity. It 

 is entirely nocturnal in its habits, spending the day stretched out 

 along the branch of some shady tree, such as the Euphorbia cande- 

 labra (" Hasaden " ). It is a curse to the poultry yard, visiting it 

 night after night until shot or trapped. 



27 



