THE HUNTING-LEOPARD 



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in Southeast Africa it is very rare, although found more commonly than elsewhere 

 in the rocky gorges of the Bombo mountains, where it lies concealed in the dense 

 jungle, from which it occasionally ventures forth on the open plains. Its chief 

 prey consists of various species of antelopes. It is regarded as perfectly harmless, 

 and indeed cowardly, towards man. Both Mr. Drummond and his native hunters 

 appear to have often mistaken hunting-leopards for immature lionesses when seen 

 at a little distance on the sandy plains. To the natives of Southeast Africa the 

 animal is known as the N'Gulule. 



In India our information with regard to hunting-leopards is much fuller, owing 

 to their being kept by many of the native princes for the purpose of sport, which 

 entails the necessity of careful observation of their haunts and habits on the part of 

 those intrusted with their training ; and this more particularly as only full-grown 

 examples are captured, the belief among the natives of India being that when cap- 

 tured as cubs they are of no use for sporting purposes. 



According to Mr. Blanford, the principal haunt of the Indian hunting-leopard 

 "is in low, isolated, rocky hills, near the plains on which live antelopes, its princi- 

 pal prey. It also kills gazelles, nilgai, and, doubtless, occasionally deer and other 

 animals. Instances also occur of sheep and goats being carried off by it, but it 

 rarely molests domestic animals, and has not been known to attack men. Its mode 

 of capturing its prey is to stalk up to within a moderate distance of from one to 

 two hundred yards, taking advantage of inequalities of the ground, bushes, or 

 other cover, and then to make a rush. Its speed for a short distance is remarkable 

 far exceeding that of any other beast of prey, even of a greyhound or kangaroo- 

 hound, for no dog can at first overtake an Indian antelope or a gazelle, either of 

 which is quickly run down by C. jiibatus, if the start does not exceed about two 

 hundred yards. General M' Master saw a very fine hunting-leopard catch a black 

 buck that had about that start within four hundred yards. It is probable that for 

 a short distance the hunting-leopard is the swiftest of all Mammals. ' ' 



It appears from the accounts of the natives who capture hunting-leopards that 

 these animals hunt either in pairs or in family parties. After they have gorged 

 themselves they repose in their lair for a couple of days or so, and then proceed to a 

 particular tree, where they meet other members of their kind, whence they probably 

 watch the movements of their expected prey. Such trees are recognized by the 

 marks made on the bark by their claws, and the hunters are in the habit of captur- 

 ing the leopards by surrounding the tree with a number of rawhide nooses. 



From time immemorial tame hunting-leopards have been kept by the native 

 potentates of India, as part of the royal estate, for the purpose of hunting the Indian 

 black buck (antelope) or other game. " In this sport," writes Sir Samuel Baker, 

 "all persons excepting the keepers of the animals, are simply spectators, and no 

 interference is permitted. Each chita occupies a peculiar cage, which forms the 

 body of a cart drawn by two bullocks. When game is expected, the chita is taken 

 from the cage, and occupies the outside seat upon the top, together with the keeper. 

 The animal is blinded by a hood similar to that worn by a falcon, and it sits 

 upright like a dog, with the master's arm around it, waiting to be released from the 

 hood, which it fully understands is the signal that game is sighted." 

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