166 THE LEOPARD. 
are on their posts as sentinels, and destroying in one fell swoop the entire stock of poultry 
that happen to be collected under that roof. Even should they roost out of doors they 
are no less in danger, for the Leopard can clamber a pole or tree with marvellous rapi ity, 
and with his ready paw strike down the poor bird before it is fairly awakened. 
The following narratives of the Cape Leopard and its capture are taken from the 
anecdotes so kindly placed at my disposal by Captain Drayson. 
Tae Leoparp acts ina very subtle manner, remaining in some unlikely spot near a 
village, and committing a great amount of havoe before its whereabouts is discovered. I 
knew that two Leopards were located in the bush at Natal within half a mile of the bar- 
racks, and yet they were never seen. The disappearance of a dog and a stray pig were the 
only indications that they gave to the non-observers of their being in the vicinity. 
I became acquainted with their presence in rather a curious way. Being alone in the 
bush one day, as was my usual custom, I sat down under the shade of a dark Euphorbia, 
to watch the habits of a chameleon which I had caught. I set him upon a branch, and 
saw him try every change of colour of which he was capable. At first he was a dull 
green, then some spots of brown came over him, and he changed all over of a brownish 
tint; when I irritated him with my finger he opened his comical mouth and gave a gaping 
sort of hiss, whilst his swivel eyes pointed each in different directions at the same time. 
Suddenly I heard the scream of a buck at a short distance from me; and concluding 
that the animal had been caught in a trap set by the Kaffirs, I grasped my gun, and pushed 
through the underwood towards the spot. Before I had gone far the noise ceased, and 
when I reached the place whence I conceived it had come, I saw nothing remarkable ; 
there was no sign of a buck or of a trap. I therefore examined for spoor, and found that 
there had been a scuffle on the ground ; and a few yards from the sign blood-spots lay on 
the leaves, together with small pieces of fur which I recognised as belonging to a Leopard. 
I followed the trail for some distance, but at length lost it. On several successive 
occasions I went over this ground, and always found the spoor of one, and sometimes of 
two Leopards, either fresh or a day or two old. 
It is a practice of this cunning animal to take up its position near a village, and then 
go to the farms of another village quite at a distance, so that its lair shall neither be 
suspected nor discovered. 
f 
| Tse Leoparp when seen in its wild state is a most beautiful and graceful animal ; 
\motions are easy and elastic, and its agility amazing. Although far inferior to the Heat in 
size, strength, and intrepidity, and though it shuns man, it is nevertheless, when wounded 
or driven to desperation, a most formidable antagonist. When hunted with dogs, the 
Leopard usually takes to a tree, if one should happen to be near. But to approach him 
here is a proceeding fraught with danger ; for from this elevated position he will leap to 
the ground, and with one spring will be beside his pursuer, who will then fare badly unless 
he be sufficiently handy with his gun to kill (not wound) the animal in its advance. The 
Leopard usually selects some elevated position from which to bound upon his prey as it 
passes underneath. 
I have been told by Hottentots and Kaffirs that this animal has the habit of lying on 
the ground half concealed by long grass or branches, and then twisting itself about so as 
to attract the attention of any antelo ype which may be near. The Leopard, being aware that 
curiosity is one of the failings of the antelope tribe, carries on its mysterious movements 
until its victim approaches to investigate what is going on, when it springs on and kills 
the weak-minded animal. 
It is a well-known fact that the Leopard does a very good business when it devotes its 
attention to a herd of baboons. Success in this line speak s well for the Leopard ; for he 
must be an adept in stalking who succeeds in surprising and capturing one of these wide- 
awake caricatures of humanity. Isuspect, however, that the victims are either the old 
and infirm, or those reckless youngsters who have not paid sufficient attention to the 
instructions which their anxious parents have endeavoured to instil into them. 
