114 rEiiD^. 



117. Fells jubata. 



ScHEEBER. — F. guttata, Heeilaitn. — F. venatica, A. Smith. — Chita, H. 

 — Yug, of the trainers. — Kendua hagh, Beng. — Laggar, in some parts. — 

 Chita puli, TS. — Chircha and Sivungi, Can. — The Cheeta, or Hunting 

 Leopard. 



The Hunting Leopaed. 



Descr. — Bright rufous fawn with numerous black spots, not in rosettes ; 

 a black streak from the comer of each eye down the face ; tail with black 

 spots and the tip black ; ears short and round ; tail long, much compressed 

 towards the end ; hair of belly long and shaggy, and with a considerable 

 mane ; pupils circular ; points of the claws always visible ; the figure slender, 

 small in the loins Uke a greyhound ; limbs long. 



Length, head and body, about 41 feet; tail 2| ; height 2^ to 2| feet. 



This animal was the original Panther and Leopardus of the ancients, 

 who considered (with the Arabs of the present day in Northern Africa) 

 that it was a breed between the lion and the pard. 



The hunting leopard is found throughout Central and part of Southern 

 India, and in the North-west from Kandeish, through Siiidh and Eajpoo- 

 tana to the Punjab. 



It is also found in South-western Asia, as far as Syria and Mesopota- 

 mia, and throughout Africa. It is stated to exist in Ceylon (fid. Baker 

 ex Blyth), but I doubt extremely its occurring in that island. I have 

 met with it myself in the Deccan, near Jaulna, and near Saugor in Central 

 India, in both cases in tolerably open ground where the common antelope 

 was abundant. In the one instance I turned it out of a small low her 

 bush, along with a jackal that was keeping it company ; and near Saugor 

 I saw a pair of them stalking some nH-ghai in mid-day. I had one 

 yoimg one brought to me also at Saugor, only a very few days old. It 

 was clad with long hair of a greenish fawn color without spots, and it 

 was not for several days that I recognised it to be the Cheeta ; the cheek 

 stripe was the first mark that appeared. Antelope, gazelle, and nil-ghai 

 are said to be its chief food in the wild state, but it is said occasionally to 

 carry sheep off. Native shUcarees assert that it usually has it lair among 

 rocks, and feeds only every third day, sleeping the two others. 



I brought up the young one, above alluded to, along with some grey- 

 hound pups, and they soon became excellent friends. Even when nearly full 

 grown it would play with the dogs (who did not over relish his bounding 



