XXVI 
ANIMALS WHICH PROVIDE SPORT 
259 
hunter from the branch of a tree. They may be 
obtained by laying out a kill and visiting it in the 
early morning. Also there is a good chance where 
they are numerous of coming across one by creeping 
round the edges of forest at dawn or sunset. Any¬ 
thing over 7 feet is a fine leopard, and about 8 feet 
would represent the maximum growth, while full 
grown specimens are often less than 5 feet. There is 
hardly a corner ot the Protectorate where they do not 
exist. Perhaps they are more numerous than any¬ 
where along the Athi below that point which most 
closely adjoins the Thika. 
The Cheetah is widely distributed wherever there 
are plains. Yet, although it has always no doubt been 
common, the first specimen killed by a European 
was obtained, I believe, by Sir Robert Harvey in 
1905. Now probably at least thirty or forty are 
bagged yearly. It is usually held that the cheetah is 
the fastest sprinter amongst all animals. Such an 
estimate is based purely on hypothesis, and while 
having every respect for the powers of the former, I 
do not believe for a moment that a cheetah could 
cover 200 yards in the same time as a good greyhound 
or even whippet, i.e. about 6 seconds. The cheetah 
lives on Thomas’ gazelle and smaller buck, and no 
doubt takes his toll of sheep, though I have never 
heard personally of one being actually caught flagrante 
delictu. Writers in the early days of big game 
shooting in South Africa describe the cheetah as 
killing kudu, a feat one would have thought beyond 
the power of his teeth or claws. Certainly he attempts 
no such strenuous work in East Africa. The writer 
had the pleasure of witnessing the successful chase of 
a Thomas’ gazelle on the part of a cheetah. The 
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