272 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



and make off. It stood quite still, as if rooted to the spot, 

 with its gaze fixed on a thicket just in front. 



The Colonel looked, and there, coming stealthily nearer, 

 was a leopard, creeping with its head to the ground. This 

 puzzled him, for he had learned that there were no leopards 

 in that district ; but he quickly prepared to bag the bigger 

 creature, and, if need be, let the Peacock take fright and 

 fly away. 



But as soon as he raised his gun to fire, what was his 

 astonishment to see the leopard throw up its paws, and 

 scream to him in terror, " Nehin, Sahib, nehin, mut chulao ! " 

 (No, Sir, no, don't fire !). 



For a moment the hunter thought fairy-tales were 

 coming true, and all the weird Eastern stories of enchanted 

 animals and bewitched princes and princesses which he 

 had heard crowded into his mind. But the next instant 

 the "leopard" rose on its hind feet, and the Englishman 

 saw that it was a native hunter, cleverly got-up in a 

 leopard skin. The head, with its glass eyes, was very real- 

 looking, and so long as he crept low along the ground, 

 through the grass, sharper creatures than the Peacock 

 might well have believed that it was indeed a leopard 

 stealing towards them. 



The native was a fowler by calling, and he told the 

 sportsman that, so disguised, he was always able to get 

 near enough to any Peacock to shoot it easily with his 

 bow and arrow, and sometimes even to grab the bird with 

 his hand. 



But if the Peacock " freezes " with terror at sight of an 

 approaching leopard or tiger, he is valiant enough when it 

 comes to battling with one of his own tribe. If he has a 

 rival who offends him he will ruffle up his feathers and 

 rush at him in a truly royal rage. 



