SMALLER CATS 61 



such as duikers and steenbucks. It is a light animal for 

 its height, and, though old males occasionally put up 

 a good fight, can usually be tackled by any resolute dog 

 even of small size. In fact, I have known medium-sized 

 servals held, and once or twice killed single-handed by a 

 plucky fox- terrier. 



The cry of a serval is a shrill " Mwa, mwa " repeated 

 seven or eight times in rapid succession ; when at bay it 

 spits and growls much like an ordinary domestic cat. 



Servals do not lend themselves easily to domestication, 

 and, no matter how young they may be taken, seldom 

 overcome their repugnance to human beings, though 

 they thrive well enough in captivity. 



A small spotted variety inhabits west Africa. 



THE AFRICAN TIGER CAT. This spotted species, which 

 is similar in general shape, but superior in size to the 

 ordinary domestic cat, is an inhabitant of the equatorial 

 forest zone. 



THE BLACK-FOOTED WILD CAT. The general colour 

 of this animal is pale tawny, but it is nearly white under- 

 neath and on the inside of the limbs ; its body is covered 

 with small rounded dark 'spots, which, on the nape and 

 shoulders, fuse into vague longitudinal stripes. Its ears 

 are of moderate length, slightly pointed ; and the legs 

 are encircled by three dark rings. The soles of the feet 

 are black. The tail is relatively short, and black tipped. 



This cat, which is rather less in size than the domestic 

 animal, is only found in certain localities 1 ; in fact it appears 

 to be confined to the, Kalahari Desert, Bechuanaland, 

 and the west of the Orange Free State. 



THE AFRICAN WILD CAT. This cat, of which the South 

 African variety is known as the Kaffir cat, is distributed 

 over the whole of Africa except the equatorial forest 

 zone and the Sahara. During prehistoric times, its 



