OFF FOR THE SOTIK DISTRICT. 32i 



Gaining their living by mingled craft and agility, this animal 

 obtains its food from the various deer and antelopes which inhabit 

 the same country, and in seizing and slaying its prey no little art is 

 required. Their speed is not very great, with but little endurance ; 

 so that an antelope or a stag could set the spotted foe at defiance, 

 and in a short half-hour place themselves beyond his reach. But 

 it is the business of the cheetah to hinder the active and sw^if t-footed 

 deer from obtaining that invaluable half -hour, and to strike them 

 down before they are aware of his presence. 



In order to obtain this end, the cheetah watches for a herd of 

 deer or antelopes, or is content to address himself to the pursuit of 

 a solitary individual, or a little band of two or three, should they be 

 placed in a position favorable for his purpose. Crouching upon 

 the ground so as to conceal himself as much as possible from the 

 watchful eyes of the intended prey, he steals rapidly and silently 

 upon them, never venturing to show himself until he is within reach 

 of a single spring. 



THE CHEETAH TAKING THE PLACE OF THE HAWK. 



Having singled out one individual from the herd, he leaps upon 

 the devoted animal and dashes it to the ground. Fastening his strong 

 grip in the throat of the dying animal, he at once proceeds to lap the 

 hot blood, and for the time seems forgetful of time or place. 



Of these curious habits, the restless and all-adapting mind of 

 man has taken advantage, and has diverted to his own service the 

 wild destructive properties of the cheetah. In fact, man has estab- 

 lished a kind of quadrupedal falconry, the cheetah taking the place 

 of the haw^k, and the chase being one of earth and not of air. The 

 Asiatics have brought this curious chase to great perfection, and 

 are able to train them for this purpose in a wonderfully perfect 

 manner. 



When taken out for the purpose of hunting game, he is hooded 

 and placed in a light car, in company with his keepers.' When they 

 perceive a herd of deer, or other desirable game, the keepers turn 

 the cheetah's head in the proper direction, and remove the hood from 

 his eyes. The sharp-sighted animal generally perceives the prey ai 



II. B. G.— 21 



