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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 wffiite and 
black rings. 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 fthazes speak of it in the tenth 
century. 
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 unequalled tact, 
of the slightest breaks in the ground to conceal its movements. 
When it considers that it is sufficiently 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 off 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 
