The Cat '1 nbe. 79 



among their flocks. Combined with great agility, he 

 possesses the craft and cunning of the fox, and, like 

 that animal, usually selects the hen-houses of the 

 neighbourhood for his nocturnal raids. In these he 

 commits the greatest havoc, striking the birds to the 

 ground before they are even aware of the presence of 

 their enemy, and following them into the trees should 

 the}' roost among the branches. 



The mischief he commits is rendered even greater 

 by his custom of storing up provisions for a rainy day. 

 For this purpose he usually selects the junction of a 

 large branch with the tree-trunk, and constitutes this 

 his larder, which he carefully conceals by means ot 

 dead leaves, etc. He has even been known to carry 

 the body of a slain child into the fork of a tree, and 

 hide it there. 



When on the look-out for prey, the leopard generally 

 conceals himself among the branches of some tree be- 

 neath which game is likely to pass. From his leafy 

 retreat he can then leap down upon the unfortunate 

 animal, and bring it to the ground merely by the force 

 of his spring. When hunted, too, he almost always 

 takes refuge among the boughs of a tree, and displays 

 great sagacity in selecting a spot where he is protected 

 from the aim of his pursuers. 



On ordinary occasions the leopard is a much more 

 timid animal than most of his relatives, and is easily 

 frightened if taken by surprise. When driven to bay, 

 however, he fights with the greatest ferocity and des- 

 peration, dashing savagely at his foes, and wreaking 

 his vengeance upon them with tooth and claw. 



In consequence of this fierce disposition, a native 

 who has killed one of these animals is held in the 

 highest esteem by the rest of his tribe, who regard with 

 envy the necklace of the teeth and claws, and the 

 ' kaross,' or cloak, which he forms from the skin. The 



