HUNTING THE ANTELOPE. 



Sports of India," the mode of coursing with the cheetah is thus 

 described. They (the cheetahs'), are led out in chains, with 

 blinds over their eyes, and sometimes carried out in carts, and 

 when antelopes, or deer, are "seen on a plain, should any of them 

 be separated from the rest, the cheetah's head is brought to face it, 

 and the blinds taken_ off. He immediately crouches, and creeps 

 along with his belly almost touching the ground, until he gets 

 within a short distance of the deer, who, although seeing him 

 approach, appears so fascinated that he seldom attempts to run 

 away. The cheetah then takes a few surprising springs, and 

 seizes the deer by the neck. If many deer are near each other, 

 they often escape by flight, their number perhaps giving them 

 confidence. 



We may add to this, that the cheetah takes advantage of every 

 means of making its attack, and that when unsuccessful in its 

 effort, it returns sullenly to its keeper, who replaces the hood, and 

 reserves him for another opportunity. When, however, he has 

 grappled with the quarry and fixed himself upon its throat, drink- 

 ing the life-blood warm, his nature breaks out with all its violence, 

 so that it requires some management to separate him from his 

 victim. Partly awed by the keeper's voice, partly enticed by 

 pieces of meat, and a ladleful of the blood, he is induced to relin- 

 quish the prize, and submit to be again hooded. In all thi* we 

 are reminded of the art of falconing. 



In captivity the cheetah is gentle, familiar and playrul. It 

 becomes greatly attached to those who feed or notice it. The 

 disposition of these beautiful creatures is, indeed, frank and con- 

 fiding, and consequently there is little trouble in rendering them 

 perfectly domestic. Their voice of pleasure is a pur; of uneasi- 

 ness or hunger, a short reiterated mew. 



