86 WILD ANIMALS. 



Again, in character it is the one redeeming member of its family. 

 Instead of the sly, suspicious, and comparatively untamable 

 qualities the felidce generally exhibit, it possesses much of the 

 intelligence, teachableness, and fidelity of the dog ; hence from' 

 very remote times we read that, its good qualities being discovered, 

 it was domesticated and became the friend and helpmeet of man, 

 and it being found eminently fitted for hunting purposes, was 

 employed in that capacity. 



Its general colour is a fulvescent cream, or bright nanhin, 

 covered with numerous round black spots, but not grouped in 

 rosettes, like the leopard or panther. The lower parts shade into 

 white, and the face has a black streak down it, obliquely from the 

 corner of each eye. The tail, which is long instead of tapering, 

 gradually thickens towards the end, and is spotted also, but has 

 three or four black rings at the tip ; its absolute extremity, how- 

 ever, being always white. There are several varieties of this 

 animal ; they differ in colour and appearance sufficiently to distin- 

 guish the country or district they come from. The Samaouan 

 cheetah is very handsome, paler in colour, less spotted, and 

 longer legged than the Syrian animal, which is of a larger size, 

 has a fierce expression, and is not so much esteemed. 



The fur lacks that sleekness so attractive in the majority of the 

 cat tribe, for it is peculiarly crisp and coarse. The neck and 

 shoulders are surmounted by long, stiff, upright hairs that form a 

 regular mane. 



The cheetah stands somewhat taller than the leopard, being only 

 a little under three feet in height. The body measures about 

 seven feet to the end of the tail, which is by itself about two and a 

 half feet in length. 



It is found in Syria, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and in West and 

 Southern India. In the latter country it is, however, rather a 

 rare animal. It also inhabits Abyssinia, Senegal, and other places 

 of South Africa. 



In Africa, where the natives seem unable to learn the art of 

 taming animals, the cheetah is only valued for its pelt. The 

 petty kings, tribal chiefs, and other savage potentates bedeck 

 themselves with robes made from the skins. In Senegal they 



