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is quickly run clown by the Cheetah if the start does not exceed 

 about 200 yards. M'Master saw a very fine Hunting Leopard 

 catch a Blackbuck (Antilope ccrvicapra) that had about that 

 start, within 400 yards. It is probable, says Mr. Blanford, that 

 for a short distance the Hunting Leopard is the swiftest of all 

 mammals. 



This swiftness, coupled with its docility, has led to its being 

 tamed and trained for the chase by native sportsmen; but, 

 contrary to what would be supposed, only adults are captured, 

 Indian shikaris considering that the young can only be properly 

 trained by the parents. 



By many writers, and amongst Indian naturalists by Sykes, 

 Elliot, Horsfield, Hodgson, and Sterndale, it has been thought 

 that, besides the Cheetah, there are two species of Indian Leopard, 

 a larger and a smaller. Even Jerdon appears to have been in 

 doubt on the subject. Mr. Blanford suspects that the supposed 

 difference is very often due to age, and states that he has for years 

 endeavoured to distinguish the two forms, but without success. 



Much has been written about the combats between the Mun- 

 goose* (Herpestes mango) and venomous snakes, and the supposed 

 immunity of the former from snake-bite. The prevalent belief 

 throughout Oriental countries is that the Mungoose when bitten 

 seeks for an antidote — a herb or a root known in India as 

 mangiiswail. The story, however, is without foundation, though 

 there is some evidence to support the impression that the Mun- 

 goose is less susceptible to snake-poison than other animals. 

 Upon this point Mr. Blanford agrees with Jerdon and Sterndale, 

 that "the Mungoose usually escapes being bitten by his wonderful 

 activity. He waits until the snake makes a dart at him, and 

 then suddenly pounces on the reptile's head, and crunches it to 

 pieces." He adds, "I have seen a Mungoose eat up the head 

 and poison-glands of a large Cobra, so the poison must be harm- 

 less to the mucous membrane. When excited it erects its long 

 stiff hairs, and it must be very difficult for a snake to drive its 

 fangs through this, and through the thick skin which all kinds 

 of Herpestes possess. It has been repeatedly proved by experi- 

 ment that a Mungoose can be killed like any other animal, if 



* A corruption of " Mangus," the native name for this animal in the 

 Deccan and Southern India. 



