THE SERVAL CAT 



sprang up a tree and showed the greatest alarm, 

 hissing and snarling with excessive energy in the 

 hope, evidently, of scaring us off. I approached 

 and cast a stone at it, whereupon it rapidly ran along 

 a branch, dropped to the ground, and bolted full 

 speed, outdistancing the dog in a few moments. 



In the wilder, forest-covered parts where 

 man rarely penetrates, the Serval may often be 

 seen abroad during the daytime on the watch for 

 monkeys and birds. 



I had two Servals in captivity for a number of 

 years. One of these was captured when almost 

 adult, and in spite of the greatest of patience 

 and gentleness I could not manage to tame it. 

 A Kafir boy of about fourteen years of age cleaned 

 out the cage every day, and on one occasion prodded 

 and otherwise teased this Serval with his broom, 

 whereupon the cat sprang upon him with a snarl 

 of anger and severely lacerated his face and neck 

 with its claws and teeth. The other Serval was 

 captured in the kittenhood stage, and grew up as 

 tame as any domestic cat. I was obliged to keep 

 it confined most of the time, either on a chain or 

 in a large cage, owing to its fondness for my poultry 

 and pigeons. Now and then I took it for a walk 

 out upon the veld, and gave it its liberty. On 

 calling out its name, " Foxey," it would instantly 

 gallop back to me and affectionately rub its head 

 against my leg. Nothing delighted it more than 

 to be allowed to hunt in the grass for rats and mice, 

 '35 



