■78 SOUTH AFRICAN MAMMALS 



climber, and ascends large trees. We have seen one 

 descending from a tree and sliding down the trunk as 

 a cat would slide down a pole. 



It gives birth in the spring to from three to six cubs, 

 the former being the more usual number. 



Although not to be trusted with as much confidence as 

 a Lion, we have possessed one or two very tame examples, 

 notably a female called "Nora," who lived in the gardens 

 for three years, until she was viciously done to death — 

 for no accountable reason — by a male leopard. Up to 

 the last she could be taken out of her cage and walked 

 about the grounds on a chain (when the public were 

 absent). 



Several litters have been born in the gardens, three 

 being the usual number. The cubs are barely 6 inches 

 long when born, and are blind and helpless. At six 

 weeks they begin to play like kittens, and a prettier 

 sight can hardly be imagined than a dozing leopard with 

 her cubs gambolling around her. The period of gesta- 

 tion as observed here is from ninety-two to ninety-five 

 days. 



Zibethailurus serval capensis. Serval. Tier (Tijcjer) 



BoscJi-kat. 

 (Tiger Cat of the colonials.) 



This animal is a higher, "leggier" looking animal 

 than the common Wild Cat. It is of a reddish yellow 

 ground colour, varying individually — some being darker 

 and others lighter in shade — covered with solid black 

 spots, which take the form of bands on the nape and 

 sides of the neck and upper shoulder. Length of head 

 and body about 2J feet, tail 9 inches. A fine example in 

 the Pretoria Zoo stands 18 inches high at the shoulders. 



