THE CHETAH. 
129 
its figure. Mr. Bennett, speaking of two 
that were kept in the Tower menagerie, 
says, 4 They are truly an elegant and grace¬ 
ful pair, having, when le^out into the court¬ 
yard in their couples, very much of the air 
and manners of greyhounds. When no¬ 
ticed or fondled, they purr like cats; and 
this is their usual mode of expressing plea¬ 
sure. If, on the other hand, they are un¬ 
easy, whether from cold, from a craving 
after food or from a jealous apprehension 
of being neglected, their note consists of a 
short, uniform and repeated mew. They 
are extremely fond of play, and their man¬ 
ner of playing resembles that of the cat. 
The chetahs speedily become fond of those 
who are kind to them, and exhibit their 
fondness in an open, frank, confiding man¬ 
ner. There can, in fact, be little doubt that 
they might with the greatest facility he re¬ 
duced to a state of perfect domestication 
and rendered fully as familiar and faithful 
as the dog himself.’ ” 
“I should like to have one. Wouldn’t 
you, aunt?” said Sidney. 
44 It would he a very pretty pet, certainly, 
if one could overcome a certain distrust of 
