NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



During buck hunts, when the bush is beaten by 

 crowds of natives, these Serval Cats often break 

 cover and are shot. 



The male Serval has a more massive head than 

 the female, as well as a better developed body. 

 When cornered by dogs it fights fiercely and grimly 

 to the last, and usually succeeds in either killing 

 or severely mauling some of its assailants. 



I once saw a mongrel dog disembowelled by a 

 Serval. The cat had been pursued and surrounded 

 by a dozen or more dogs, and in the excitement one 

 of them rushed in at it. In an instant the cat had 

 the dog by the throat, and throwing it down it at 

 the same time cast itself upon its side and with a 

 tremendous stroke tore open the abdomen of its 

 victim with its hind claws. 



The Serval, although so widespread, is nowhere 

 common. This is somewhat surprising, for it has 

 no enemies in the lower animal kingdom which 

 deliberately hunt it down with the intention of 

 taking its life. The lion, leopard, and chita do not 

 interfere with it unless it should be foolish enough 

 to bother them when devouring their prey. The 

 wild-cat tribe do not hunt and kill other carni- 

 vorous or flesh-eating animals for food unless 

 forced by starvation. 



When two male Servals are placed in the same 

 cage they fight to the death, unless reared together 

 from kittenhood. 



In the wild condition, on the approach of the 

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