C Y N A I L U R U S J UBATUS .
It would follow its master when he went out on horseback, occasionally sitting down for a few moments, and then bounding
after him. It liked to be noticed, and expressed its pleasure by purring. As it increased in size it commenced to attack
sheep; but being whipped for this it turned its attention to donkeys, and was well kicked by these otherwise submissive
creatures. Its owner then had some gazelles (Gazella bennettii) brought and let loose before it. The Cheetah always
caught them easily; but it did not understand how to pull them down; and occasionally, if the antelope got too far away, it
discontinued the chase—although, if a greyhound was slipped, it would follow the dog. When it was beginning to understand
its duties its master parted with it, as he was going on field service. This species preys upon antelopes of various
kinds, which it is accustomed either to stalk and then spring upon from some convenient hiding-place, or else to catch when
running. At times it is said to carry off sheep. When taken into the field to hunt, it is carried in a cart, with its eyes
blindfolded; and when game is perceived by the driver the cart is brought as near as circumstances will permit, and the
Cheetah’s eyes are uncovered. As soon as the animal catches sight of its prey it leaps down from the cart, frequently on the
opposite side from that on which the game is, and approaches it either stealthily, taking advantage of every inequality in
the ground, or else by galloping quietly along until the quarry becomes frightened and starts off, when immediately the
Cheetah bounds rapidly forward with a speed that is almost inconceivable, and generally arrives within springing-distance
in a few moments, when it launches itself upon the frightened antelope, and drags it to the ground, seizing it at the same
time by the throat. The keeper then runs up as quickly as possible, cuts the throat of the struggling game, and, collecting
some of the blood in a wooden ladle, thrusts it under the nose of the Cheetah, who laps it u p ; and while thus occupied the
hood is slipped over its head. I f this species is unsuccessful on these expeditions, and its prey escapes, it either comes
trotting sulkily hack to the cart growling out its displeasure, or walks about, according to Mr. Vigors, in a “ towering
passion,” after which it submits to be led back to the waggon. Jerdon’s tame animal when left alone uttered a plaintive
cry, termed by Blyth a “ bleat-like mew.” The hunters assert that this creature, if captured when young, is useless for
training, as the instruction of its parents is necessary for it to learn how to pull down its prey.
Mr. Sclater has conferred upon a Cheetah living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society at Regent’s Park the name of
Felis lanea, as probably representing a species distinct from C. jubatus. The characters given as specific are the denser
fur and the isabelline hue of the body, covered by dark ftdvous spots, the denser tail, and the absence of the black line
between the mouth and the eye. The animal was stated to have come from Beaufort West, in the Cape colony, South Africa.
From the thickness of the fur I should judge it to be an inhabitant of elevated plateaus, where the cold is frequently
severe.; and, like the Leopards and Tigers which dwell at similar altitudes, the hair is naturally longer and more dense than
is the case with individuals of the same species living in warmer climates. The spots are lighter than in any Cheetah I
have ever seen; but that fact is not of itself of much importance, as the colour of such markings varies greatly in all
spotted Cats, and it is by no means unusual to see some members of the same species spotted with black, and others with
rufous or red. The slightly bushy appearance of the tail is only in keeping with the longer fur of the body—a peculiarity
equally noticeable in Leopards from Persia and China, and also in Tigers from the last-named country. The size of the animal
is certainly larger than that usually seen among individuals of this species; but there is a specimen of Cheetah from South
Africa now in the British Museum which I consider to be fully as large, if not larger, and which presents the coloration of
pelage usually seen, with the spots jet-black in colour. The absence of the black mark on the face is unusual, though I
have observed that it has been occasionally wanting in some of the smaller species of Cats when two lines upon the face
were always conspicuously present in the majority of individuals. I have examined this F. lanea as carefully as was
possible, and compared it with the Indian Cheetahs in the adjoining cage, and I have not been able to persuade myself,
mindful of the great variations to which all the Cats are liable, that it. represents a distinct species; and until it can be
proved, from an examination of the skull, to be really specifically different, I prefer to regard it merely as a lighter-coloured,
more thickly furred form of the ordinary C. jubatus, just as the long-haired Tigers and Leopards are only F. tigris and
F. pardus from colder latitudes.
General colour light buff. A black bar from nose to mouth across the middle of upper lip, and a narrow one across the
cheek from corner of the eye. Chin and throat huffy white. The entire rest of body thickly spotted with black or rufous.
A short mane on hind neck and between shoulders. Tail long, same colour as body, thickly spotted with black, and
tipped for from 3 to 4 inches from the end with black.
C Y N A I L U R U S J UB AT U S.
Specimen in British Museum.—Nose to root of tail 4 feet 2| inches, tail 27 inches. Very large, of a greater size than
F. lanea, and covered with large jet-black spots.
Young.—Head, back, and tail greyish white, rest of body and legs dark chestnut.
The skull of this species is greatly arched when seen in profile, the forehead very high. The face is short and broad, as
are also the nasals. Orbits large, incomplete. Brain-case wide, frill, and rounded. The processes of the maxilla are
rounded and extended considerably, beyond the fronto-articulation of the nasals. These last are also depressed medianly,
forming a groove at the symphysis; and the anterior portion of the prefrontal bone is also greatly depressed at the centre,
thus continuing the groove of the nasals. Interorbital space wide. Upper canines moderate in size.