332 ANTELOPE -COURSING WITH THE CIIEETA. 



quadruped possesses. This great velocity is often continued for three or 

 four hundred yards. If witliin this distance the cheeta does not seize his 

 prey he stops, but apparently more from anger than from fatigue, for his 

 attitude is fierce ; and he has been known immediately afterwards to pursue 

 with equal rapidity another antelope that liap})ened to be passing. JSome- 

 times, but rarely, the cheeta endeavours to approach the game by stealtii, 

 and goes round a rock or hill until he can come upon it by surprise." 



Mr Vigne (quoted by Jerdon) says : " It requires strong epithets to give 

 an idea of the creature's speed. When slipped from the cart he first walks 

 towards the antelope with his tail straightened and slightly raised, the 

 hackle on his shoulder erect, his head depressed, and his eyes intently 

 hxed upon the poor animal, who does not yet perceive him. As the 

 antelope moves he does the same, first trotting, then cantering after him ; 

 and when the prey starts off, the cheeta makes a rush, to which (at least 

 I thought so) the speed of a race-horse was for the moment much inferior. 

 When we consider that no English greyhound ever yet, I believe, fairly ran 

 into a doe antelope, which is faster than the buck, some idea may be formed 

 of the strides and velocity of an animal who usually closes with her imme- 

 diately. 



Jerdon adds : " I have often seen the cheeta, when unhooded at some 

 distance from the antelope, crouch along tlie ground and choose any 

 inequality of surface to enable it to get within proper distance of the 

 antelope. The cheeta, after felling tlie antelope, seizes it by the throat, 

 and when the keeper comes up he cuts its throat, and collects some of the 

 blood in the wooden ladle from which it is always fed. This is offered to 

 the cheeta, who drops his hold, and laps it up eagerly, during which the 

 hood is cleverly slipped on again. Shikaries always assert that if taken 

 as cubs tliey are useless for training, till they have been taught by their 

 parents to pull down their prey. Tliis ojiiuion is corrol)orated, in part at 

 least, by my experiences witli the tame one mentioned above." 



