224 CAKMVORA. 



limbs, the claws ot" whiih arc only imporfoctly retractile: the muscles for 

 shooting" out and drawins;- back the claws are tlioro. but tliev arc so weak 

 and powerless that the claws always protrude and consequently are worn 

 blunt. The teeth, on the other hand, are immistakably those ot a member 

 ot" the family ot' Felida\ but the tail is curled over on itself at the extremity 

 like the tail of a dog-. Not onlv in exteinal appearance are the members 

 of this i^enus intermediate between the feline and the canine taniilies. but 

 thev also display the qualities of both; they have the sharp eye and the 

 cunnings of the cat combined with the docility, mildness, and attachment 

 of the dog. 



THE CHEETAH. 



The Cheetah, Cvn<r/Mnis ;'uf><tfus {V\Mc VIIIV is popularly called the 

 •• Huntinof Leopaid." but it can lay no claim to be considered a leopard, 

 and has been so called on account of its spotted hide. Its scientific name 

 j'uhiius. or " maned." has been assigned to it because a quantity of long 

 hair grows on the back of the head and neck. Some writers needlessly 

 distinguish between the African and Asiatic varieties, but the animals are 

 essentiallv the same. 



The Cheetah, with its slender, narrow body, stands higher than the 

 cats proper ; the head is small and somewhat rounded like a dogs, the 

 ear is broad and short, the eye has a round pupil, the hide is rough and 

 of a vellowish-gray color, marked with black and brown spots, arranged 

 close together on the back and partly extending along the tail, which is 

 ringed with black toward the end. The body measures about three feet, 

 the tail about two. The African variety, called in Arabic FahJuid. has 

 no mane, the predominant color of the fur is orange-yellow, and the tip 

 of the tail is white. 



The Cheetah is found in all Southwestern Asia, and is a genuine beast 

 of the plains, depending for its food on its speed and activrtv. It can 

 creep on the ground, but does so more like a wolf or fox than like a cat : 

 when it quickens its pace it runs with the long leap of the greyhound. 

 It is quite unable to climW. It purrs like a cat. but in a deeper and 

 rougher tone, and at times uttei-s a very peculiar cry. so like the word 

 Cheetah th.>t we are justified in supposing that it derives its name from it. 

 Its usual food consists of small ruminants : its speed alone would not 

 enable it to take an antelope, but its catlike cunning comes to its aid. 

 When its prev is visible, it creeps snakelike along the ground till it conies 



