l66 Wild Beasts 



ascertained, the design is often more complete than the 

 execution. His heavy yet muffled tread is sometimes 

 heard, he breaks dry sticks, rustles as he moves through 

 parched herbage, waves long grass in passing, so that any 

 experienced eye can tell he is there, puts his head out of 

 cover prematurely, is apt to cross open spaces when a 

 circuit ought to be made ; again, he cannot keep his tail 

 still, and as the moment approaches for making an end of 

 his •victim, anticipation of the pleasure of putting the man 

 to death and devouring him overcomes his caution, and 

 he begins to purr. This is not a loud sound, but it is a 

 very impressive one, and has been frequently heard. But 

 no creature's senses can give warning of a panther's or 

 leopard's approach. Few people ever heard or saw one of 

 these beasts while coming. They steal upon their prey 

 with the silence and certainty of death. Their stalk is 

 the perfection of skill. The attack is rapid and fierce 

 beyond comparison ; and afterwards, unless the ground 

 is such as will retain a trail, this animal cannot be fol- 

 lowed. It is the most difficult to mark down of all beasts 

 of prey, the hardest to track on account of its many 

 tricks. No kind of game is so often hunted unsuccess- 

 fully. 



Leopards get the advantage over a being far cleverer 

 than any other forest animal. Monkeys of all species 

 detest tigers, but have an intense dread of the spotted cats. 

 They " swear " at the former, but fly from the latter, and 

 as for men, monkeys deride them. Panthers and leopards 

 catch these creatures in trees, on the ground, by day and by 

 night ; while they are on the alert, and in moments when an 



