16 Quadrupeds. 
THE CHEETAH, OR HUNTING LEOPARD. 
(Felis juhaia.) 
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 are not capa- 
ble of being so completely drawn back into the toes as 
they can in other animals of the cat kind. The Cheetah 
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 Cheetah 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 Cheetah, 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 Cheetah some pieces of raw meat, con- 
trives to hoodwink and chain him again to his pad behind 
the saddle, on which he crouches like a dog. If the 
Cheetah is not successful in catching an antelope before 
the herd takes flight, he never pursues them, but returns 
to his keeper with a discontented and sullen air. 
