68 NATURAL IIISTORV KSSAN'S 



Great Karroo desert, famed for its springbok 

 shooting. On the other hand, a blackish specimen 

 of the common leopard was recorded from Grahams- 

 town in 1885, and another in 1886, while two other 

 examples are known — all from the Albany district at 

 the Cape. Young cheetah at a few days old are 

 greyish white above, dark chestnut below and on 

 the limbs. The streak on the face appears first, but 

 other markings — blackish brown in colour and longi- 

 tudinal in direction — may be observed on turning 

 back the long fur of kittenhood. 



Although widely distributed throughout the greater 

 part of Africa, and also found in Syria, Persia and 

 India, the hunting leopard owing to its semi-nocturnal 

 habits frequently escapes observation. Sir Cornwallis 

 Harris in an expedition of five months saw but one, 

 which was shot by his friend Richardson; Drummond, 

 on a much later trip, saw but two.^ Occasionally 

 these great cats are abroad in daylight, if the weather 

 be cloudy.- A party of six going at a quick walk 

 throutrh the scrub was observed in Somaliland some 

 years ago ; Mr. E. Wynstone Waters records two 

 which he observed in January 1902 near the Eldama 

 Ravine Station in Uganda, playing together like a 



1 From tlie ease with wliicli it is said tliat ciieetali at a distance may 

 be mistaken for immature lionesses or for wild doj;s they perhaps escape 

 recognition even when seen. 



2 The strange nondescript animal, resembling a puma, which Andei-sson 

 mentions havin<jseen one cloudy day, seems to have been a cheetah. See 

 "Lake Ngami, by C. .J. Andersson. 



