NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



It disturbed a covey of partridges one day, and with 

 a leap it secured one in the air, six feet from the 

 ground. I once saw it make a most remarkable 

 leap. It happened to observe a Bush Pigeon 

 sitting on a branch, and crouching low it took 

 advantage of the scrubby bushes for cover, and 

 succeeded in crawling unseen almost beneath the 

 spot where the bird was preening its plumage. 

 Then, with a single bound, the Serval leaped 

 straight up into the air, a distance of about ten 

 feet, seized the bird with its claws, and fell in a 

 heap on the ground with its prey. 



The degree of celerity with which this cat could 

 bound up the perpendicular trunk of a tree was 

 marvellous. When rambling in the bush-veld with 

 this tame Serval, we surprised a Bush Dassie on 

 the ground. It at once scurried up a tree, but the 

 cat was after it in a moment, and seemed to actu- 

 ally run up the trunk of the tree and seize the 

 dassie before it could reach the hole at the top 

 which communicated with the hollow interior. 

 The moment it seized its victim, it fell with a thud 

 to the ground, fearful lest the struggling dassie 

 should escape from its jaws. 



One day my Zulu servant, in my absence, took 

 upon himself to take " Foxey " for a ramble, and 

 succeeded in losing her in a neighbouring forest. 

 He told me she gave chase to a buck, and although 

 he searched everywhere he failed to find her. Much 

 vexed at the loss of my special pet, I informed 



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