88 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



considered that they can only be taught their trade by their parents. 

 Probably, also, they would never attain such vigour and high condition 

 when reared in captivity; besides which it must be remembered that 

 any animal caught leading an independent wild life has proved its 

 fitness for this, whereas a creature which one rears by hand may have 

 some defect in bodily or mental powers which would have soon proved 

 fatal to it under the more rigorous conditions of nature, though not 

 prejudicial in domestication. 



The Cheetah, kept in the ordinary way in a Zoological Garden, is 

 not a very hardy animal, and cannot be called at all common in capti- 

 vity. Probably, if kept tame enough for handling, and often taken out 

 for a run, under due restraint, it would thrive much better. 



