254 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



not often. No vocal sounds are emitted. The nostrils 

 are slightly dilated and the whole body is absolutely 

 motionless and in a state of rigid muscular tension, 

 while the face expresses that earnest determination 

 which at times must be so necessary for the successful 

 accomplishment of the animal's desires. 



Intense eagerness is also expressed when the animal 

 is in motion, as when it is endeavouring to discover 

 the whereabouts of its food or is creeping with stealth 

 towards another animal. The general attitude is pre- 

 cisely similar to that of an animal about to spring, but 

 the head and body are lowered less completely to the 

 ground, and the animal moves forward with extreme 

 quietness. When the sense of smell is brought into 

 action in association with this movement, the nostrils 

 are dilated, the nose depressed to the ground, and the 

 animal sniffs with vigour as it moves silently and 

 rapidly from place to place. 



(6) ATTENTION 



When the leopard distinguishes in the distance an 

 object the nature of which it does not clearly recognize, 

 or hears a sound which it does not understand, the 

 attitude which I have designated as " attention " is 

 immediately assumed. 



In the attitude of attention the trunk is raised so 

 that the body is supported sometimes on the two front 

 limbs and sometimes on all four. By this movement 

 the animal's range of vision is greatly increased. The 

 ears are directed forwards and the eyes widely opened. 

 The mouth may be partially open or closed. The 

 head is usually craned a little forward and occasionally 

 moved from side to side as though it was endeavouring 



