xxvi ANIMALS WHICH PROVIDE SPORT 259 



hunter from the branch of a tree. They may be 

 obtained by laying out a kill and visiting it in the 

 early morning. Also there is a good chance where 

 they are numerous of coming across one by creeping 

 round the edges of forest at dawn or sunset. Any- 

 thing over 7 feet is a fine leopard, and about 8 feet 

 would represent the maximum growth, while full 

 grown specimens are often less than 5 feet. There is 

 hardly a corner ot the Protectorate where they do not 

 exist. Perhaps they are more numerous than any- 

 where along the Athi below that point which most 

 closely adjoins the Thika. 



The Cheetah is widely distributed wherever there 

 are plains. Yet, although it has always no doubt been 

 common, the first specimen killed by a European 

 was obtained, I believe, by Sir Robert Harvey in 

 1905. Now probably at least thirty or forty are 

 bagged yearly. It is usually held that the cheetah is 

 the fastest sprinter amongst all animals. Such an 

 estimate is based purely on hypothesis, and while 

 having every respect for the powers of the former, I 

 do not believe for a moment that a cheetah could 

 cover 200 yards in the same time as a good greyhound 

 or even whippet, i.e. about 6 seconds. The cheetah 

 lives on Thomas' gazelle and smaller buck, and no 

 doubt takes his toll of sheep, though I have never 

 heard personally of one being actually caught flagrante 

 delictu. Writers in the early days of big game 

 shooting in South Africa describe the cheetah as 

 killing kudu, a feat one would have thought beyond 

 the power of his teeth or claws. Certainly he attempts 

 no such strenuous work in East Africa. The writer 

 had the pleasure of witnessing the successful chase of 

 a Thomas' gazelle on the part of a cheetah. The 



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