HUNTING-LEOPARD. 445 



It appears from the accounts of the natives who capture hunting-leopards that 

 these animals hunt either in pairs or in family parties. After they have gorged 

 themselves they repose in their lair for a couple of days or so, and then proceed 

 to a particular true, where they meet other members of their kind, whence they 

 probably watch the movements of their expected prey. Such trees are recognised 

 by the marks made on the bark by their claws, and the hunters are in the habit of 

 capturing the leopards by surrounding the tree with a number of raw-hide nooses. 



From time immemorial tame hunting-leopards have been kept by the native 

 potentates of India, as part of the royal state, for the purpose of hunting the Indian 

 black-buck (antelope) or other game. " In this sport," writes Sir Samuel Baker, 

 " all persons, excepting the keepers of the animals, are simply spectators, and no 

 interference is permitted. Each chita occupies a peculiar cage, which forms the 

 body of a cart, drawn by two bullocks. When game is expected, the chita is 

 taken from the cage, and occupies the outside seat upon the top, together with 

 the keeper. The animal is blinded by a hood similar to that worn by a falcon, and 

 it sits upright like a dog, with the master's arm around it, waiting to be released 

 from the hood, which it fully understands is the signal that game is sighted." 



On the particular occasion described, there were plenty of black-buck, and 

 " we were not long," continues Sir Samuel Baker, " in finding a herd, in which were 

 several good old buck, as black as night. Nothing could be more favourable than 

 the character of the ground for the natural habits of the chita. The surface was 

 quite flat and firm, being a succession of glades, more or less open, surrounded by 

 scattered bush. A chita was now taken from its cage, and it at once leaped to the 

 top, and sat with its master, who had released it from the hood. After an advance 

 of about two hundred yards, the wheels making no noise upon the level surface, 

 we espied the herd of about twenty antelopes, and the cart at once halted until 

 they had slowly moved from view. Again the cart moved forward for seventy or 

 eighty paces, and two bucks were seen trotting away to the left, as if they had 

 caught a glimpse of the approaching cart. In an instant the chita was loosed. For 

 a moment it hesitated, and then bounded forward, although the two bucks had 

 disappeared. We now observed that the chita not only slackened its pace, but it 

 crept cautiously forward, as though looking for the lost game. We followed quietly 

 upon horseback, and in a few seconds we saw the two bucks about a hundred and 

 twenty yards distant, standing with their attention fixed upon us. At the same 

 instant the chita dashed forward with an extraordinary rush. The two bucks, at 

 the sight of their dreaded enemy, bounded away at their usual speed, with the chita 

 following, until all the animals were lost to view in the scattered bushes. We 

 galloped forward in the direction they had taken, and in less than three hundred 

 yards arrived at the spot where the chita had pinned the buck. This was lying 

 upon its back without a struggle, while the firm jaws of its pursuer gripped it by 

 the throat. The chita did not attempt to shake or tear the prey, but simply 

 retained its hold, thus strangling the victim, which had ceased all resistance. 



" The keeper now arranged the hood upon the chita's head, thus masking the 

 eyes, which were gleaming with wild excitement, but it in no way relaxed its grip. 

 Taking a strong cord, the keeper now passed it several times around the neck of 

 the buck, while it was still held in the jaws of the chita, and, drawing the cord 



