40 



success aud with face, jaws and foreparts literally dropping blood, 

 a wooden bowl of which had been presented to him as a peace- 

 offering when each buck was taken from him to have its .throat cut 

 in the orthodox Mussalman fashion, he sat on the cart with his face 

 within a few inches of mine, and each jolt knocked our heads or 

 bodies together. The odd mixture of feline purring and looks with 

 dog-like sporting feeling, docility and manners this particular 

 leopard displayed, astonished me very much. An excellent sports- 

 man and keen observer has reminded me, that in closing with his 

 quarry, a hunting leopard appears to upset a buck, by hooking or 

 knocking the antelope's feet from under him, or aside with hie paw. 

 I think, that I have also remarked this cat like blow, but if it be 

 used, the stroke is given with such rapidity that the eye can hardly 

 follow it. 



To those who have not seen antelope, the idea of witnessing 

 from so slow a conveyance as a bullock cart, a race for life or 

 death between the two fleetest animals we know of, must appear 

 strange : but it should be remembered. 



First, that the run is always a very short one, three or four 

 hundred yards, perhaps at most a quarter of a mile. 



Secondly, that the black buck generally brings up the rear of 

 the herd or zenana over which he presides ; jealousy and dread 

 that any of the ladies should elope, being I think his reasons, for no 

 male animal of my acquaintance displays such an aggravating want 

 of confidence in the female portion of his household, or such a 

 dislike to his own sex as does a black buck. As with others this 

 is unlucky for him in many ways, particularly where a hunting 

 leopard is concerned, for not only is he thus pretty sure to be the 

 last of a herd, but he is also from size, color and horns far more 

 conspicuous than the rest and more likely to attract the attention of 

 the leopard : when, on the small leathern hood which is fastened 

 under his chin, somewhat forage-cap fashion, being slipped back 

 from over his eyes to behind his ears, the beautiful beast stands up 

 on the cart for a second to gaze about him, then, dropping off it 

 like a snake, starts in pursuit. 



Thirdly ; it should not be forgotten, that with very little man- 



