114 
Felid^. MAMMALIA. Felidae. 
able. I will not say bow far its disposition might 
have continued unexceptionable under any other cir- 
cumstances, but, rmhappily, several of the privates of the 
artillery having access to the place where the leopard 
was kept, and of course now and then imprudently 
worrying him, the leopard became snappish and petu- 
lant. One day a soldier provoked him rather too far, 
when the leopard, now grown to the size of a stout 
Fig. 34. 
The Leopard (Felis Leopardus). 
pointer, suddenly reared, and fixing his claw in the 
nape of the man’s neck, tore his shoulder in such a 
manner as to occasion the soldier’s death in the course 
of a few hours. The leopard from that time became 
so ferocious as to render it absolutely necessary to shoot 
him — a measure which gave universal satisfaction.” 
THE CHEETAH {Felis juhata ). — This is a species 
of very great importance in a zoological point of 
view, inasmuch as it has been re]>resented as form- 
ing an aberrant transitional type between the dogs 
and cats ; and but for the marked disparity in 
size, its general appearance, and the noble lion-like 
attitude which it assumes, we might perhaps have 
more reasonably considered it at the beginning of 
the feline series. Much has been written concerning 
its true zoological position, especially by Mr. Bennett, 
who is quite eloquent upon the subject; yet Pro- 
fessor Owen’s detailed researches into the anatomy 
of this animal, clearly demonstrate that the so-called 
canine characters are more apparent than real. The. 
body is much elongated, and stands high on the legs, 
which are correspondingly slim (fig 35). The fur 
has a pale fulvous colour generally, being almost white 
beneath the neck and belly; and except in these 
situations, the entire surface is marked with numerous 
uniform and closely-set spots of a deep-black colour. 
The tail is long, and somewhat bushy at the tip, the 
central line beneath it, and the extremity, being white ; 
but at the upjper part and sides throughout the remainder 
of its extent, it is more or less annulated, the spots 
having a tendency to form incomplete transverse rings, 
which become more and more conspicuous as they 
approach the free extremity. The mane is very slightly 
developed ; the ears are short and rounded ; the pupil 
of the eye is circular ; the tip of the nose being black. 
The feet are provided with retractile claws, as in other 
Felidae; but, according to Professor Owen, their action 
is somewhat restricted on account of the length of the 
unequal phalanges and their elastic ligaments. Some 
authors have erroneously stated that the claws are non- 
retractile. The Cheetah enjoys a wide geographical 
range over the open grounds of Africa and southern 
Asia. It is a singularly graceful and elegant species, 
and is very commonly known by the name of the Hunt- 
ing leopard. In Persia it is called the Youze, and Mr. 
Ogilby tells us that “in the East, where these beautiful 
animals are employed in the chase, they are carried to 
the field in low cars, whereon they are chained. Each 
leopard is hooded. When the hunters come within 
view of a herd of antelopes, the leopard is unchained, 
his hood is removed, and the game is pointed out to 
him ; for he is directed in the pursuit by his sight. 
Tlien he steals along cautiously and crouchingly, taking 
advantage of every means of masking his attack, till 
he has approached the herd unseen within killing dis- 
tance, when he suddenly launches himself upon his 
quarry with five or six vigorous and rapid bounds, 
strangles it instantaneously, and drinks its blood. The 
huntsman now approaches the leopard, caresses him, 
wins him from his prey by placing the blood which 
he collects in a wooden ladle under the nose of the 
animal, or by throwing to him pieces of meat; and 
whilst he is thus kept quiet hoods him, leads him back 
to his car, and there chains him. If the leopard fails, 
in consequence of the herd having taken timely alarm, 
he attempts no pursuit, but returns to his car with a 
