NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



was quite apparent she would instantly have killed 

 it if she had been able to get a grip of it. However 

 the wee mite continued to make friendly advances, 

 and lay for hours close against the wire netting of 

 the cage. Foxey very soon responded to these 

 overtures of affection and love, as do practically all 

 animals, and it was very touching to see the great 

 cat and the tiny kitten trying to rub their noses 

 together and carry on a conversation. The two 

 would lie as near each other as the wire side of the 

 cage would allow ; and at other times they en- 

 deavoured to play, darting at one another and 

 leaping and capering. 



Being quite satisfied the kitten would come to 

 no harm, I took it with me inside Foxey's cage 

 and gently laid it dowQ. Foxey instantly advanced 

 and made the most extravagant demonstrations, 

 leaping and springing around and over the kitten. 

 She then began to purr most energetically, and 

 lying down, licked the kitten very gently and rubbed 

 it with her nose in token of love and friendship. 

 The kitten was equally demonstrative, and showed 

 by its actions it was greatly pleased. 



After a time, thinking it best to take the little 

 mite away, I stooped to pick it up, but the Serval 

 instantly seized it with her teeth by the loose skin 

 of the back of its neck, in the way a mother carries 

 her kittens, and retiring into her kennel she threw 

 a protecting paw around it and hissed loudly and 

 threateningly when I approached. However, al- 



138 



