166 THE LEOPARD. 





entire stock of poultry that happen to be collected under that roof. Even should they 

 roost out of doors they are no less in danger, for the Leopard can clamber a pole or 

 tree with marvellous rapidity and with his ready paw strike down the poor bird 

 before it is fairly awakened. 



The following narratives of the Cape Leopard and its capture are taken from the 

 anecdotes so kindly placed at my disposal by Captain Drayson. 



The LEOPARD acts in a very subtle manner, remaining in some unlikely spot near a 

 village and committing a great amount of havoc before its whereabouts is discovered. 

 I knew that two Leopards were located in the bush at Natal within half a mile of the 

 barracks, and yet they were never seen. The disappearance of a dog and a stray pig 

 were the only indications that they gave to the non-observers of their being in the 

 vicinity. 



I became acquainted with their presence in rather a curious way. Being alone in 

 the bush one day, as was my usual custom, I sat down under the shade of a dark 

 Euphorbia, to watch the habits of a chameleon which I had caught. I set him upon 

 a branch, and saw him try every change of color of which he was capable. At first he 

 was a dull green, then some spots of brown came over him, and he changed all over 

 of a brownish tint, when I irritated him with my finger he opened his comical mouth 

 and gave a gaping sort of hiss, whilst his swivel eyes pointed each in different direc- 

 tions at the same time. 



Suddenly I heard the scream of a buck at a short distance from me ; and concluding 

 that the animal had been caught in a trap set by the Kaffirs, I grasped my gun, and 

 pushed through the underwood towards the spot. Before I had gone far the noise 

 ceased, and when I reached the place whence I conceived it had come, I saw nothing 

 remarkable ; there was no sign of a buck or of a trap. I therefore examined for 

 spoor, and found that there had been a scuffle on the ground ; and a few yards from 

 the sign of blood-spots lay on the leaves, together with small pieces of fur which I rec- 

 ognized as belonging to a Leopard. 



[ followed the trail for some distance, but at length lost it. On several successive 

 occasions I went over this ground, and always found the spoor of one, and sometimes 

 of two Leopards, either fresh or a day or two old. 



It is a practice of this cunning animal to take up its position near a village, and then 

 go to the farms of another village quite at a distance, so that its lair shall neither be 

 suspected nor discovered. 



The LEOPARD when seen in its wild state is a most beautiful and graceful animal ; 

 its motions are easy and elastic, and its agility amazing. Although far inferior to the 

 tiger in size, strength, and intrepidity, and though it shuns man, it is nevertheless, 

 when wounded or driven to desperation, a most formidable antagonist. When hunted 

 with dogs, the Leopard usually takes to a tree, if one should happen to be near. But 

 to approach him here is a proceeding fraught with danger ; for from this elevated 

 position he will leap to the ground, and with one spring will be beside his pursuer, 

 who will then fare badly unless he be sufficiently handy with his gun to kill (not wound) 

 the animal in its advance. The Leopard usually selects some elevated position from 

 which to bound upon his prey as it passes underneath. 



I have been told by Hottentots and Kaffirs that this animal has the habit of lying 

 on the ground half concealed by long grass or branches, and then twisting itself 

 about so as to attract the attention of any antelope which may be near. The Leopard, 

 being aware that curiosity is one of the failings of the antelope tribe, carries on its 

 mysterious movements until its victim approaches to investigate what is going on, 

 when it springs on and kills the weak-minded animal. 



It is a well-known fact that the Leopard does a very good business when it devotes 

 its attention to a herd of baboons. Success in this line speaks well for the Leopard ; 

 for he must be an adept in stalking who succeeds in surprising and capturing one of 

 these wide-awake caricatures of humanity. I suspect, however, that the victims are 

 either the old and infirm, or those reckless youngsters who have not paid sufficient 



