yo NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



" fixed like an iron vice in its throat" to quote Sir 

 Samuel Baker/ 



Various antelopes (nilgai and black buck in India, 

 springbok, pallah, and even kudu in Africa) together 

 with hares and game birds are pursued by these 

 feline greyhounds. These methodical beasts are said 

 to habitually resort to certain trees in order to sharpen 

 their claws before hunting ; after a successful stalk 

 they repose in their rocky fastnesses for two days 

 before resuming^ the field. 



The cheetah shares with the lion and tiger the 

 distinction [sic) of being the "jackal's provider." 

 That the jackal is the lioits provider has been the 

 usual belief, the former animal being supposed to 

 lead his nobler comrade to the banquet, just as the 

 pilot fish is alleged to act as courier to the shark. 

 It has, however, been proved that the jackal follows 

 and not precedes the lion, giving way meekly enough 

 if the oria^inal diner return to the " kill," It but 

 takes the leavings of the royal brute, struggling for a 

 share among a crowd of ravenous hyeenas and flapping 

 broad-winged vultures. Dr. Jerdon mentions having 

 turned a cheetah and jackal together out of the same 

 ditch ; no doubt the jackal merely accompanied the 

 hunting leopard for the sake of what he could get, 

 preferring a diet of antelope meat to the scanty fare 



1 "In all animals that I have observed killed by cheetas, death has 

 l)een caused by strangulation." — Mr. F. Y. Kirby In Haunts uj Wild 

 Game, p. 553. 



