THE JUNGLE CAT, 
223 
over a leopard, 1 left it apparently quite dead ; on returning 
some time after, I was surprised to find it was gone, when I 
suddenly saw it a short distance away with its back up 
looking awfully fierce, and the next moment I fully believe it 
^vould have charged me had I not effectually put a bullet 
behind its shoulder. This shows how careful one ought to 
be in approaching any of these big cats, supposing them to be 
dead. Even the common wild jungle cat [Felis ckaus) of 
Southern India is an awkward customer at times. It is a 
tall long legged, short tailed animal, almost as unlike our 
domestic cat as the wild dog is to its civilized brother. One 
of these cats came into our cantonment evidently on the 
prowl for fowls or anything it could pick up, so we collected 
all the dogs we could, and had a hunt ; after some time we 
found it, and a very exciting chase we had amongst the 
hedges that divided the officers* quarters. We came to a long 
check, the dogs being quite at fault ; after looking about 
for some time I spied the cat squatting in a hedge and called 
for the dogs ; when they came, I knelt down and began 
clapping my hands and cheering them on ; the cat suddenly 
made a clean spring at my face ; I had just time to catch it as 
one would a cricket ball, and giving its ribs a strong squeeze 
I threw it to the dogs, not however before it had made its 
teeth meet in my arm just above the wrist ; for some weeks I 
had to carry my arm in a sling, and I shall carry the marks 
of the bite to my grave, 
1 have not killed many leopards although I have often 
come across them both on the ground and in trees, but they 
are so crafty and sly that it is very difficult to get a fair shot 
at them. It was when out after ibex that I mosdy met with 
them^ as they are particularly partial to the flesh of this 
