202 THE HUNTING -LEOPARD. 



that of the dog. The mane, from which he derives 

 his scientific name, is not very remarkable ; it con- 

 sists of a series of longer, crisper, and more upright 

 hairs, which extend along the hack of the neck and 

 the anterior portions of the spine." 



We observed that the disposition of those animals 

 was so much allied to that of the dogs, that they were 

 capable of being trained for the chase ; it is, however, 

 more properly similar to the species of docility which 

 characterizes a falcon, and the employment of the 

 hunting-leopard may be compared to the sport of fal- 

 conry. The natural instinct teaches to pursue the 

 game ; the reward of a portion of it, or of the blood, 

 induces them to give it up, and again subject them- 

 selves to their master. It is in India that this sport 

 is pursued ; in Africa the hunting-leopard is only va* 

 lued for his skin, which is worn by persons of con- 

 sequence, or the chiefs of tribes ; and brings a high 

 price on exportation. 



At an early period of the Mogul empire*, these 

 animals were employed in the greatest numbers ; and 

 it appears certain that others of this race were also 

 used. " Leopards and lynxes were kept for the 

 chasing of deer, and also tigers for seizing boars/' 

 Although it is not likely that it was the real tiger 



* This sport appears to have had a very early origin. 

 From Sir William Jones, we learn that " Hushing, probably 

 contemporary with Minos, and king of Persia, B. C. 865, , 

 was the first who used dogs and leopards for hunting, and 

 introduced the fashion of wearing the furs of wild beasts in 

 winter." Vol. v. p. 588. 



