WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



were baited with carrion. Near these traps were others, 

 in the neighborhood of which live animals — goats and 

 asses — were fastened to trees as bait for lions. The 

 leopards almost invariably preferred the carrion. My 

 method of baiting for the leopard was based on close 

 observation of the habits of the beast. The leopard very 

 often does not eat up its prey completely. It first eats 

 the heart and liver. The parts left over it places up in 

 a tree - fork, often very high above the ground. This 

 peculiarity of the leopard frequently furnishes other 

 members of its kind food which they will not reject 

 even in a putrid condition. 



Leopards are therefore best caught in traps baited 

 with carrion. I have learned that my method has 

 been adopted by many hunters who heard of it from 

 my former carriers. Whenever I caught a leopardess 

 I could count on catching her mate on one of the fol- 

 lowing nights. 



I have killed leopards which weighed one hundred 

 and forty-five pounds; the females Aveigh considerably 

 less. 



Even a trapped leopard is very dangerous, and must 

 be approached cautiously. Should it succeed in freeing 

 itself, it would no doubt attack the hunter. 



If the trap is fastened to a tree, the captive will 

 climb up the trunk as far as the chain permits; if it be 

 anchored in the ground by means of a big stick, the 

 beast is apt to uproot it and may escape. 



242 



