| Antique Print Art - Natural History Print A beautiful illustration from a British Victorian natural history book. The quality of the illustrations is superb, some of the best of the period. '
From time immemorial tame hunting leopards have been kept by the native potentates of India, as part of the royal state, for the purpose of hunting the Indian black-buck (antelope) or other game. 'In this sport', writes Samuel Baker, 'all persons, excepting the keepers of the animals, are simply spectators, and no interference is permitted. Each chita occupies a peculiar cage, which forms the body of a cart, drawn by two bullocks. When game is expected, the chita is taken from the cage, and occupies the outside seat upon the top, together with the keeper. The animal is blinded by a hood similar to that worn by a falcon, and it sits upright like a dog, with the master's arm around it, waiting to be released from the hood, which it fully understands is the signal that game is sighted.
The hunting leopard is a member of the Cat family, and differs so markedly in certain respects from all the others that it is now generally admitted to rank as a distinct genus. It is generally known to Europeans as the chita (or cheetah); but since this name is at least equally applicable to the true leopard its use is better avoided.
The hunting-leopard is distinguished by the slenderness of its body, and the great relative length of its limbs, which are longer than in any of the true cats, not even excepting lynxes. In length of body it may be compared with the true leopard, although it stands much higher on the legs.
The principal haunt of the Indian hunting leopard is in low, isolated, rocky hills, near the plains on which live antelopes, its principle prey. It also kills gazelles, nilgai and doubtless occasionally deer and other animals. Instances also occur of sheep and goats being carried off by it, but it rarely molests domestic animals, and has not been known to attack men. Its mode of capturing its prey is to stalk up to within a moderate distance of between one and two hundred yards, taking advantage of inequalities of the ground, bushes, or other cover, and then to make a rush. Its speed for a short distance is remarkable - far exceeding that of any other beast of prey, even of a greyhound or kangaroo-hound. It is probable that for a short distance the hunting leopard is the swiftest of all mammals.' |
