TIIEOATTEIBE. 57 



not unlike that of the American hare itself. Its skin forms an 

 important article in commerce, and between seven and nine thou- 

 sand are imported yearly by the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company, by whom the 

 grey specimen in the British Museum 

 was presented. 



The Chetah, or Hunting 

 Leopard, is a native of Africa and 

 Southern Asia. With the distin- 

 guishing characteristic of the cat spe- ''''°"'* ^^'"' 

 cies, it combines somewhat of the dog. Unlike those of the cat, 

 its claws are only slightly retractile. In size he is intermediate 

 between the leopard and the hound, but has a slenderer body, 

 more elevation in his legs, and a less flat fore-part of the head 

 than the former, while he wants the graceful and lengthened form 

 of head and body by which the latter is distinguished. His fur 

 is not sleek, but has a peculiar crispness. Above, the ground color 

 is a bright yellowish fawn ; beneath, it is a pure white ; the back 

 and sides are covered with innumerable spots, close to each other, 

 from half an inch to an inch in diameter. The spots are larger, 

 but less closely set, on the back than on the head, sides, and limbs. 

 On the chest and under part of the body they are wanting. The 

 tail is marked with interrupted rings of them, till near the ex- 

 tremity, which is surrounded by three or four complete rings 

 Along the back of the neck and the anterior part of the spine, is 

 a mane, consisting of longer, crisper, and more upright hairs. 



In the East he is used in hunting by the higher classes 

 Hiding himself as much as possible, he approaches the f eject, 

 and when he las come sufficiently near, he makes five or six 

 enormous bounds, with incredible velocity, darts on his victim, 

 and instantly strangles him. In his domesticated state, the Che- 

 tah is one of the most playful and fond of animals. He has not 

 the slightest appearance of the caprice and mischievousness of 

 the cat. 



The Ichneumon, from the tip of the nose to the end of 

 the tail, is from twenty-four to fortr-two inches in length; nearly 



