MY SOMALI BOOK 107 



race. My note-book, containing other measurements, 

 Avas unfortunately lost. 



I mentioned that this lion was stated to have 

 jumped into a zariba and jumped out again taking a 

 sheep with him. As this practice on the part of the 

 lion has been questioned, it may be of interest to give 

 it some consideration. Mr. F. Vaughan Kirby, an un- 

 doubted authority, but writing mainly with reference 

 to South Africa, remarks : " It is a physical impossi- 

 bility for so comparatively low-standing an animal as 

 a lion to lift and carry an impala clear of the ground, 

 much less an ox or even a calf, to say nothing of 

 leaping a fence with such a burden. Lions, indeed, 

 seldom leap any fence, but wriggle themselves under or 

 force their way through." 



It is unquestionably correct that a lion cannot 

 carry any but a comparatively small animal clear of 

 the ground ; he cannot lift his head high enough from 

 the ground while walking or running to do so. But 

 I cannot agree with the conclusion that therefore (this 

 seems to be implied) he cannot leap a fence with a calf 

 in his mouth. Surely the latter feat presents quite a 

 different problem ? 



Like all the FelidcB, the lion's leaping powers are 

 considerable. I have seen a leopard in captivity 

 repeat edty jump with the greatest of ease on to a ledge 

 ten feet above its head, and there is an authenticated 

 record of a tiger in Mysore clearing a net ten feet in 

 height. Even for a heavy lion, then, the leaping of a 

 five or six foot fence can be no great feat. 



There remains the question of strength, but I 

 hardly think Mr. Kirby will argue that the lion has not 



