THE CHEETAH 



(Cytuflttrus jubatus) 



ALTHOUGH the term "Cheetah" is simply the Indian word "chita" 

 written according to pronunciation, and is applied in India to the Leopard 

 as well as the present animal, in accordance with its signification of 

 " spotted," it is a better name than " Hunting Leopard," as well as a 

 more familiar one. For the Cheetah stands apart, not only from the 

 true Leopard, but from all other Cats, in certain points of structure which 

 are correlated with a somewhat different way of getting a living. 



Of these the most important is the fact that the claws are only slightly 

 retractile, and are thus always visible, and get worn at the tips as in 

 the case of a Dog, whereas in all the other Cats, as every one may see 

 for himself in the case of our domestic animal, the claws when not in 

 use are completely drawn back and invisible, and always retain their 

 sharpness. 



In size the Cheetah about equals the ordinary Leopard, but is different 

 in form, being much higher on the legs and slenderer in the body it 

 is, in fact, the Greyhound idea carried out in a Cat. The coat is com- 

 paratively coarse, and varies but little in colour, though a woolly-furred 

 variety, with pale brown instead of black spots, was once procured from 

 the Cape, and at first ranked as a distinct species, under the name of 

 Felts lanea. The cubs have particularly long fur, which is grey in colour 

 and unspotted, but, curiously enough, if this coat be clipped the spots 

 can be seen underneath. It will be noted in the illustration that the 

 spots are solid and single, not arranged in rosettes like those of the 

 Leopard. 



The Cheetah is an animal with a very wide range, being one of the 

 few wild beasts common to Africa and Asia ; in the latter country it is 

 confined to the South-Western portion, and does not range east of 



