386 MAMMALIA. 



The Hunting Leopard inhabits Southern Asia and various parts 

 of Africa. It is about four feet in length, and twenty-six inches 

 in height. Its fur is very elegant, being a bright fawn colour 

 above, perfectly white beneath, and everywhere interspersed with 

 black spots. The tail is barred with twelve alternately white and 

 black rino-s. A quantity of hair, longer than on other parts of 

 the body, grows on the back of the head and neck, forming a 

 scanty mane. 



The Cheetah seizes its prey by a succession of bounds remark- 

 able for their rapidity. In India and Persia has been adopted 

 the habit of training it to hunt certain animals, its natural docility 

 allowing it to be readily trained for this service. The custom 

 of employing the female Cheetah for hunting goes back to a very 

 remote period, for the Arab Rhazes speak of it in the tenth 

 centiiry. 



In Mongolia the following is the method of conducting this 

 sport. The sportsmen start off on horseback, carrying the 

 Cheetah either on a Horse, or in a carriage specially constructed 

 for the purpose. The animal is chained, and its eyes blindfolded. 

 The places which Gazelles frequent are sought out. As soon as 

 one is perceived, the hunters stop, the Cheetah is unfastened, and 

 its eyes unbandaged, and the game is pointed out to it. Imme- 

 diately, under cover of the high vegetation and brushwood, the 

 beast glides off in pursuit, taking advantage, with imequalled tact, 

 of the slightest breaks in the ground to conceal its movements. 

 When it considers that it is sulEciently near its victim, it suddenly 

 shows itself, dashes on with terrible impetuosity, springs on the 

 prey after a succession of prodigious bounds, and immediately 

 pulls it to the ground. 



Its master, who has followed the events of the chase, then 

 enters upon the scene. To detach it from its victim, he throws 

 it a piece of flesh, speaks gently to it, and caresses it ; after which 

 he again covers its eyes, and replaces it on the saddle or in its 

 conveyance, while the assistants carry ofl" the quarry. 



This kind of amusement is greatly in vogue in Mongolia, and 

 a well-trained Hunting Leopard attains an extraordinary price 

 among the inhabitants. 



In Persia this method of hunting is not conducted in quite the 

 same way. Men and Dogs beat the woods, and drive the game 



