NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



away in the wild countries uninhabited by man, 

 or at most, peopled by a few primitive savages, 

 these animals are still fulfilling the mission for 

 which the Creator evolved them. 



In rocky districts the leopard preys largely on 

 baboons, and Klip Dassies, otherwise known as 

 Rock Rabbits. In its attacks on the baboons, how- 

 ever, it does not always come off victorious, for 

 instances are known of the old warrior baboons 

 coming to the rescue of one of their number which 

 had been seized by a leopard, and actually tearing 

 it to pieces. An instance is related, in the book 

 entitled The Monkeyfolk of South Africa, of a leo- 

 pard which was attacked by a troop of baboons, 

 as seen by an eyewitness. The leopard waylays 

 the baboons when they are returning to their rocky 

 homes in the krantzes, and often when they are 

 basking on the rocks in the warm sunshine. Steal- 

 ing up under cover of rocks and scrub, this wily 

 beast springs out upon an unsuspecting baboon, 

 which is invariably a female or a young one, and 

 seizing it, bounds off in an instant into the tangled 

 bush before the leaders of the troop can come to 

 the rescue. If the sleeping-places of these rock- 

 dwelling monkeys should be accessible to the leopard, 

 they have a most uncomfortable time, for, under 

 cover of darkness, this cunning cat steals silently 

 along and drags a screaming victim from its com- 

 rades, as it knows full well that baboons are timid 

 and almost helpless during the hours of night. 

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