40 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



river course, leopards can be followed up, and with 

 the aid of a pack of dogs located, driven out, and 

 shot. On such an occasion the brute, when baited 

 by a number of barking hounds, will not only severely 

 maul many of the dogs themselves, but is quite as 

 likely as not to attack the human hunter. Nearly 

 every sportsman going up country in South Africa 

 takes with him a nondescript pack of hounds some 

 greyhounds, some rough Boer dogs (usually crossed 

 with greyhound blood), some mongrels, pure and 

 simple. These animals, though a nuisance at times, act 

 as efficient guards at night, and are useful for follow- 

 ing up leopards, lions, and other game. Half a dozen 

 dogs is quite enough for the purpose, and the approach 

 should be made as silently as possible ; it may be better 

 even to hold the dogs in leash till the last moment. 



Once fairly hit in a vital part, the leopard succumbs 

 readily enough, but the gunner facing this most active 

 and courageous beast requires to be a quick shot and 

 to have all his wits about him. 



A .400 or .450 rifle, burning smokeless powder, 

 in conjunction with a hollow-pointed or soft-nosed 

 expanding bullet, is sufficient to account for any 

 leopard. Even the .303 or Mannlicher, always 

 remembering to use an expanding bullet, is quite 

 good and reliable enough for this beast of prey. 



THE CHEETAH 



This animal, known familiarly, though not quite 

 correctly, as the hunting leopard, is found in many 



