NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



gate and plenty of bacon." In the Eastern Trans- 

 vaal the rodent known as the Cane Rat, which is 

 an animal of about the size of a full-grown rabbit, 

 is a favourite food of the leopard. In cultivated 

 fields and in the sugar plantations along the coast 

 of Natal these Cane Rats do considerable mischief. 



Most of the denizens of kloof, mountain and 

 forest are preyed upon by the leopard, chief amongst 

 which are the Bush Bucks, Duiker Bucks, and Bush 

 Pigs. 



Guinea fowls, Francolins, and others of the larger 

 birds are welcome additions to the diet of this great 

 beast. 



Should a leopard dash amongst a troop of mon- 

 keys, a family of wild pigs, &c., it slays right and 

 left, and apparently kills for the mere sake of taking 

 life. This in reality is not so. Carnivorous animals, 

 unlike those which subsist on vegetation, have not 

 a regular supply of food assured them, and for days 

 at a time are obliged to fast or satisfy their hunger 

 in a most unsatisfactory way on small creatures 

 which at other times they disdain. Consequently 

 when the chance offers they slay in a wholesale 

 manner, and if not molested or alarmed will usually 

 return nightly until all the victims are devoured, 

 for most of the carnivora will eat flesh even when 

 putrid. Some carnivorous animals carefully carry 

 away and hide what meat they cannot devour on 

 the spot. A rather remarkable custom of the 

 leopard in South Africa is that of carrying its 



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