THE HUNTING-LEOPARD. 203 
present. Length of head and body, about 41% feet ; of tail, 2%4 
feet ; height, about 2% feet. 
Distribution.—Africa and South-western Asia, excending from 
Persia to Western Turkestan and the countries east of the 
Caspian, and eastwards into India. In the latter country 
ranging over a considerable portion of the peninsula, from the 
Punjab, through Rajputana and Central India, to the confines 
of Bengal ; unknown on the Malabar Coast and in Ceylon, as 
well as to the north of the Ganges. In Africa the species is 
reported to be probably exterminated in Natal, and nearly so 
in the Cape Colony, although a few individuals still linger in 
the extreme north-western districts. Some also remain in the 
more remote unsettled parts of the Transvaal; but in the 
waterless portions of the Kalahari, as well as in parts of 
Bechuanaland, and throughout South Central Africa, it is less 
uncommon. 
The so-called Woolly Chita (C. /aniger) of Africa appears to 
be merely a variety in which the fur is more woolly and dense 
than in the typical form, with the spots taking the shape of 
blotches of a dark fulvous tint. As mentioned under the 
heading of the Leopard, the name Chita is properly no more 
restricted to the present than it is to the latter species, and it 
is accordingly preferable to adopt the term ‘‘ Hunting-Leopard.” 
Habits.— While in South Central Africa this animal usually 
haunts flat bush-clad districts, in India its favourite resorts are 
low, isolated, rocky hills. In the former country its prey in- 
cludes the smaller Antelopes and the fawns of the larger kinds, 
together with Hares, the Cape Jumping-Hare (Pedeées), and 
Guinea-fowl ; while in India it subsists chiefly upon Black 
Buck, although it also kills Gazelles, Nilgai, and probably Deer 
and other large Mammals. Although in both continents it 
occasionally carries off a stray Sheep, Goat, or Calf its depre- 
dations on domesticated animals are not very serious ; and it 
