THE SERVAL 



Felis serval, Erxleben. 



Somali name, Dinad habashi or Shebel adari 



DESCRIPTION. The general colour of the serval varies from 

 a tawny yellow to a bright yellowish brown above and creamy 

 white below. It is covered with black spots except on the neck 

 and back, where there are a series of longitudinal black stripes. 

 The animal in appearance looks something like a small cheetah. 

 The ears are similar to the cheetah's, having a black transverse 

 band posteriorly. 



MEASUREMENTS. The measurements of a skin in the British 

 Museum are : 



Length of head and body . < . . 2 ft. 10 in. 

 Length of tail . . . . . . I 3 



DISTRIBUTION. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the 

 serval is only found towards the west in the direction of Abyssinia, 

 where there is a plentiful supply of tall " durr " grass for it to hide 

 in during the heat of the day, and grassy plains for it to wander 

 over by night. 



As its Somali name signifies, it is known to the Somalis as the 

 Abyssinian cat. I have never seen it myself in Somaliland, although 

 Captain Cox obtained a specimen in Northern Somaliland. This 

 specimen is now in the British Museum. 



HABITS. It lives entirely on small mammals and birds. It is 

 nocturnal in its habits, spending the day sleeping in the long grass. 

 It is very shy, and seldom seen by day unless hunted out of the 

 grass by dogs. I have tried to tame the kittens, but with little 

 success ; but I have seen one or two become quite tame. 



