15 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



The first recognisable description of the Serval 

 appears to be that of Kolben in 1731. Dr. 

 Sparrman, the Swedish naturalist, who travelled 

 through a portion of Cape Colony during 1772-6, 

 identified the present species as the serval cat of 

 Buffon and brought home a couple of skins ; since 

 then various travellers have met with the animal,^ 

 though on account of its nocturnal habits but 

 little is known about it. The serval is said to 

 frequent long grass near rivers in South Africa, 

 whilst in Algeria^ it is stated to hide away 

 during the hours of day-light amongst tamarisk 

 and other bushes. It is known to hunt in couples, 

 and can fairly run down its prey, which consists of 

 small mammals, or even young antelopes ; birds 

 also form a considerable portion of its diet. From, 

 observations on captive animals the serval seems 

 quite at home perched on a branch, and will squat 

 comfortably on elbow and hocks like a great 

 tom-cat. Serval skins, together with those of the 

 caracal lynx (rooi kat of the Boers) and of various 

 antelopes, are used for making karosses or native 

 cloaks ; in some districts, as has long been known, 

 only youths of Royal houses are allowed to wear 

 the spoils of the serval. Further information on 

 the habits of this and other lesser Felidae would 

 be very welcome ; most sportsmen, unfortunately, 



1 The first naturalist to fifrure the serval was Schreber, who in 

 1778 published an illustration of it in his work on the Mammalia. 



According to Heuglin, the Arab name of the serval is " Badj." 



