180 



HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



s 



THE CHEETAH. 



armed with sharp-hooked and completely retracile claws *iiich 

 are protruded at pleasure ; but in the cheetah the foo being 

 narrow, and more like that of a dog, the claws from the Ljcity of 

 the spring-ligatures, are partially retraced and are consequently 

 worn and blunted at the points. As large in the body as the 

 leopard, the cheetah is superior to that animal in height, and 

 diners from it also in general figure, tn the first place, the limbs, 

 unfitted for climbing, are long, slender, and tapering,- and the 

 body, which is deficient in length, reminds one in some degree of 

 that of the greyhound. 



The skin of the cheetah is an article of some importance in 

 trade in Senegal, but is neglected at the Cape of Good Hope , 

 this animal called linpard by the Dutch colonists is indeed rare in 

 that district, but the skin is occasionally seen worn by KafTre chiefs, 

 by way of distinction. In Africa, tne rude natives never drearn 

 of employing the cheetah, as a means of procuring food : they 

 know not its value at the chase. In Persia and India, it has, 

 however, been employed from an early period. In the " Field 



