THE CHETAH. 77

birds, in the pursuit of which it is an expert climber. The
Canada Lynx preys largely upon the American hare, which
it is well qualified to hunt: The Lynx is distinguished by a
peculiar gait, for unlike other animals, it bounds with, and
alights upon, all four feet at once. The ears are erect, and
tipped with a long pencil of black hair. The fur which is
long and thick is of a pale grey colour, with a reddish tinge,
marked with dusky spots on the upper part of the body. The
under parts are white. The European Lynx feeds upon
small animals and birds. The fur of the lynx is valuable, on
account of its great softness and warmth, and is in consequence an
extensive article of commerce. It inhabits the northem parts
of Europe, Asia, and America; and prefers cold or temperate
climates, differing in this respect from most of the cat tribe.
The Chetah. The Chetah or Hunting Leopard is the one
species of the genus Cyncelurus. It is a handsome animal
and capable of considerable training. According to Mr. Benet’s
description it is “intermediate in size between the leopard
and the hound, more slender in its body, more elevated in
its legs, and less flattened on the fore part of its head than the
leopard, while deficient in the peculiarly graceful and lengthened
form, both of head and body, which characterizes the hound.”
“The ground colour of the Chetah is a bright yellowish fawn
above, and nearly pure white beneath; covered above, and
on the sides, by innumerable closely approximating spots,
from half an inch to an inch in diameter, which are intensely
black, and do not, as in the leopard and other spotted cats,
form roses with a lighter centre, but are full and complete.”
The Chetah is found in India and Africa but it is only in
India that it is trained for hunting purposes. Sir William
Jardine says: “the employment of the hunting leopard may
be compared to the sport of falconry. The natural instinct
teaches them to pursue the game, the reward of a portion
of it, or of the blood, induces them to give it up, and again
subject themselves to their master.”