QUADRUPEDS. 
13 
THE CHITTAH, OR HUNTING LEOPARD. 
(Felts Jubata.} 
THE Hunting Leopard seems to form the connecting link 
between the cat and the dog tribes ; as it has the long tail 
and flexible body of the cat, with the sharp nose and 
elongated limbs of the dog. Its claws also resemble those 
of a dog, and cannot be drawn into the foot, as they can 
in all animals truly of the cat kind. The Chittah is easily 
tamed, and Cuvier describes one which was accustomed to 
go at large in a park, and associated with the children and 
domestic animals, purring like a cat when pleased, and 
mewing when he wished to call attention to his wants. 
In the East the Chittah is used in hunting, and is carried 
in a carriage, or chained on a pad behind the saddle of a 
horseman, with a hood over his eyes : when a herd of 
antelopes is found, the hood is taken off the Chittah, who 
is let loose, and as soon as he sees the antelopes, steals 
cautiously along, till he comes within reach, when he 
springs suddenly upon them; making several bounds with 
the greatest rapidity, till he has killed his victim, when 
he begins instantly to suck its blood. The keeper then 
approaches, and throwing the Chittah some pieces of raw 
meat, contrives to hoodwink and chain him again to his 
