LEOPARDS AND CHEETAH 



open the belly — making his meal off the intestines — covering 

 up the remaining portion with leaves, etc., to keep for later 

 consumption. 



Man-eating leopards are happily rare, for when one 



happens to take to killing human beings, he is far more to 



^'^ dreaded than any other man-eating animal, and his 



i<;tims may nm to a score or two — sometimes many 



more." * 



The black leopard or panther is very rarely met with, 

 these animals generally confining themselves to thick forest 

 beyond the haunts of men. I have never had the good 

 fortune to come across one ; but have seen the skins, which 

 are of uniform dull black colour, the spots showing in 

 particular lights only. 



Another distinct variety is the snow leopard found 

 throughout the Himalayas at great elevations. It is 

 beautifully marked of a silver grey colour with darker 

 :>ots, the fur being long and very soft. 



The cheetah or hunting leopard, though often errone- 

 ously classed amongst leopards is quite a different species ; 

 in fact, a different animal altogether. He is small in the 

 loins like a greyhound, and his claws, though long, are not 

 retractile, neither arc they curved to the same extent 

 as are others of the genus Feli. The cheetah, moreover, 

 unlike the real leopjard, is apparently easily tamed and 

 taught to hunt antelope, for which purpose they are kept 

 by native princes of India. 



Unlike the tiger, the leopard is very difficult to mark 

 iiown. He seldom remains near his kill, preferring some 

 distant ravine or adjacent hill. It is only by watching 

 over a goat or cnU tied up as bait, that there is any certainty 

 of bringing him to bag. Still, I have shot a great number 

 r them, but mostly over animals which they had just 

 Killed. 



But although the leopard does not always remain near 

 his kill, he usually returns to it at dusk for a second meal ; 

 btit as he sometimes puts in an appearance much sooner, 



is advisable for the sportsnuin to take up his position 

 > irly in the afternoon, either on a tree or behind some 



* See the author's Uwt woric, *' TigMkn. 



78 



