PREFACE 



This work is the result of five years' study of the Fauna of 

 Somaliland, made while residing in the Somali country. That 

 it may be of some interest to naturalists, and of use to the 

 sportsman, is the earnest hope and ultimate desire of the 

 author. 



The Somali country has long been renowned for its peculiar 

 and beautiful Fauna, which, owing to the warlike nature of its 

 inhabitants, has been but slightly studied. 



There are still immense areas in the " Horn of Africa " 

 unexplored by the white man which in all probability contain 

 many interesting birds and mammals as yet unknown. 



My endeavour throughout has been to state as concisely 

 as possible all that is known regarding the mammals of the 

 vast region called Somaliland, and to show how slight our 

 knowledge is concerning them. 



It is impossible for me to thank individually all those who 

 have from time to time assisted me in one way or another ; but 

 I cannot close without one word of praise for one, Abdullah 

 Warsama, H.G., Aidagalleh, Guyube, my orderly, who during 

 the past five years has not only assisted me in obtaining most 

 of my specimens, but has been responsible for the preparation 

 of many of them. His knowledge and his intelligent interest in 

 the habits and the peculiarities of the wild beasts of his country 

 have been of the greatest help to me. 



My best thanks are due to the Secretary of State for the 



