MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 397 



so quick that details cannot be observed, but the goat is nearly always seized 

 by the throat. Most panthers straddle the goat, some lie down at full len<^th 

 In aU cases the goat is held until life is extinct. On steep hill sides, o°r in 

 places where there is Uttle or no cover, the attackmg rush may be from' a con- 

 siderable distance (100 yards or more). 



In several instances I have seen a panther come trotting along a jungle path 

 and go straight at the goat without increasing his pace. 



Panthers are very cautious on approachuig a kill, they walk along slowlv 

 and sUently but neither stooping nor crawling, they stop at frequent intervals 

 and look carefully around, when quite satisfied that there are no intruders 

 they sit or Ue down close to the kill ; females appear to be much more cautious 

 than males (I have noticed the same with tiger) and frequently stare long at 

 the machan, if not quite satisfied they walk away and lie down at some dis- 

 tance until it is quite dark when they again approach the kill for a feed. 



When a panther receives a wound, mortal or otherwise, he invariably makes- 

 a mad rush for the nearest heavy cover. It is astonishing how their instinct 

 leads them to the most difficult and inaccessible cover in the vicinity. 



In my experience panthers do not appear to possess a keen sense of smoll. 

 either this or they do not worry about the near presence of man, provided t)r 

 latter keeps absolutely still. On many occasions I have sat in a thick thorr» 

 shelter, or a hole in the ground covered with a charpoy or a cart-wheel, with 

 heap of thorns and green stuff piled on the top ; the panthers have passed this 

 without noticing the deceit. On one occasion in difficult ground I hollowed 

 out a cactus bush and sat in this, closing the entrance with thorns and green 

 branches, leaving a loop-hole facmg the kill ; the panther walked aU round my 

 shelter sniffing, and quite satisfied there was nothing wrong ; when he came 

 in front of the loop-hole I shot him through the head. 



Their sense of sight and hearhig is very acute, any movement however 

 slight is instantly detected ; the jungle may be disturbed by the noise of falling 

 leaves or branches, squirrels or birds racing over dry leaves, etc., of these the 

 panther will not take the shghtest notice, but if the shikari touches a dry 

 leaf or the machan creaks ever so shghtly the beast is instantly on the alert and 

 either stares straight at the source of the sound or bounds off at once. As with 

 the hunting of all wild animals it is wise to have the setting sun at one's back 

 if this is possible ; this places the quarry at a disadvantage. 



In tracking up spotted deer in the early morning I have frequently come 

 across panther. Chital always bell when they see the great cats, it is a short 

 sharp note, quite different from their usual musical call. When the panther's 

 stalk is disturbed by man, the beast gives a few grunts and makes off. The 

 Gir shikaries profess to be able to pick out the male panther by his deeper note. 



Panthers possess one peculiar habit which is not found among hons and 

 tigers. All three are much given to walking along roads and footpaths, 

 (The Indian Uon particularly, I have followed their tracks for many mUes) 

 the panther stops occasionally and leaves a long scratch on the side of the road, 

 never in the middle ; this mark is about two feet long and generally parallel 

 to the track, but sometimes at right angles. I have never seen the fact 

 quoted in shikar books, but it is well known to the jungle people who have 

 frequently pointed it out to me in several parts of India. I shaU be glad it 

 some of the Members of the Society will confirm my statement. 



ToKARVADi, PooNA DisTEiCT. E. BROOK FOX, M. Inst. C.E. 



1th May 1920. . 



No. VI.— THE HUNTING LEOPARD {CYN.ELURUS JUBATUS). 



I have never had the fortmie to see the Hmiting Leopard in the feral state. 

 I heard of one in the Buldana District of Berar in 1912 I beat up the ani- 

 mal's quarters, but found only tracks. It was said that its mate had been. 



