12 THE MAMMALS OF SOMALILAND 



for some suitable shady cover, in which they lie throughout the 

 heat of the day. It is usually difficult to dislodge them from their 

 lair, without either setting a light to it or partially surrounding it 

 with howling natives. In Somaliland it is customary to either sit 

 up over a " kill " or follow up the tracks and attempt to drive the 

 lion from his midday retreat. To accomplish the latter it is 

 necessary to have six or eight mounted Somalis who ride with up- 

 lifted spear through the thick cover, usually driving the lion in 

 front of them towards the spot where the sportsman is standing, 

 when an easy shot is generally obtainable, as the brute stands 

 hesitating at the edge of the bush, wondering which way to dash 

 off. Very frequently only a snapshot at him is obtainable when 

 he bounds out of the cover, but the horsemen soon round him up 

 again and eventually bring him to bay. 



To my thinking, the lion's roar is not as grand as it is made out 

 to be. On a still night the deep growls are heard a long way off, 

 and as they approach nearer and nearer the excitement grows more 

 intense and one is apt to exaggerate the noise. The so-called roar 

 is a series of well-timed deep throaty growls ending in a hiss, as 

 the volume of air leaves the lips. These growls, or rather series of 

 growls, are heard at varying intervals as the lion is wandering about. 

 It is difficult to imagine that an animal so cunning can give vent 

 to these far-sounding noises when hungry and in quest of food, as 

 the terrified animals must take good care to place themselves at a 

 safe distance from their dreaded antagonist. In Somaliland lions 

 chiefly rely on the wandering karias * for their food supply. At 

 night they leap the high zarebas, carrying off sheep and goats, or 

 lie up for the unwary camel as it feeds in the tall " durr " grass in 

 the daytime. They frequently travel long distances at night to 

 deliver an attack at some unsuspecting karia many miles away 

 from where they were last heard. 



I have known an old lion literally play with a donkey tied 

 up for his benefit. This occurred a few years ago- while I was 

 shooting on the edge of the Nogal Valley. A very fine lion 

 which I had failed for three nights to entice within range and 

 which appeared to be extraordinarily cunning, I determined to 

 present with a donkey for him to kill and gorge at his leisure, 



* A collection of huts belonging to one or more families, together with their 

 cattle, camels and small stock, 



